BRUSSELS (EJP)---European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton started Monday in Amman, Jordan, a five-day visit to the Middle East.

In the Jordanian capital, she will meet with King Abdullah II and Jordanian Foreign Minister Judeh in Amman. She is also expected to visit the Zaatary Refugee camp and meet with refugees from the crisis in Syria.

On Tuesday she will meet Lebanese leaders in Beirut and on Wednesday she will travel to Israel for a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defence Ehud Barak, before meeting Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad in Ramallah.

She will meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday.

On the eve of her visit, Catherine Ashton said: "This is a critical time for the wider Middle East.The close cooperation between the European Union and our partners in the region is essential to help us deal with the political, strategic and humanitarian challenges we face at this time. »