Jordan's Foreign Minister Hani Mulki said he would press Israel to release of Jordanian prisoners when he visits the Jewish state today, the first trip by such a senior Jordanian since 2001. Jordan has renewed ties with Israel, restoring an ambassador to Tel Aviv following a Feb. 8 peace summit in Egypt. Mulki said freeing Jordanian prisoners was "a basic demand" in line with Jordan's peace treaty with Israel. "Every prisoner occupies a paramount importance in our hearts. We cannot speak ... with Sharon ... without raising this issue" of Jordanians jailed after border clashes, Mulki told reporters. "We will not forget the prisoners." Mulki spoke after discussing Middle East peace with Palestinian leaders including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah, hours before he was to visit neighboring Israel for groundbreaking talks.Jordanian officials say Israel is holding about 20 Jordanian prisoners, including several jailed before Jordan's peace treaty with Israel was signed in 1994. Nabil Shaath, the deputy Palestinian prime minister, told reporters Mulki had also indicated a readiness to send Palestinian forces from Jordan to help police in the West Bank. Israel has previously rejected the idea.