AMMAN - Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday warned that the stalemate in Palestinian-Israeli peace efforts, and failure to revive the process would add to tensions in the Middle East and plunge the region into the unknown.
During a meeting with delegates from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), His Majesty explained that ongoing regional transformations should drive the Israeli government to embrace peace and stop unilateral measures that hinder peace efforts, including settlement activity and trespassing on Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
King Abdullah indicated that if Israel continues to adopt a fortress mentality, ignoring current political changes in the region and its peoples’ aspirations for pluralism, democracy, dignity and freedom, such an approach would work against Israel’s interests and will leave it isolated from the rest of the neighbourhood.
He stressed, during the meeting, that no more time should be wasted, calling on Palestinians and Israelis to engage in direct talks based on the two-state solution, which, he said, remains the optimal and only formula to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Such solution, the King added, leads to the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state on Palestinian national soil within the pre-1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, to live side by side with Israel.
King Abdullah asserted that Jordan is directly concerned with a just peace in the region, adding that the Kingdom will proceed with joint efforts with all concerned regional and international players to reach a comprehensive peace that ends the Mideast conflict. In this context, he underlined the importance of seizing the opportunity that surfaced after Palestine won a UN vote to upgrade its status to non-member observer state, a positive factor to push peace forward.
His Majesty highlighted the significant role US Jewish organisations can play to push forward peace efforts. He also underlined the importance of the US as key supporter of the peace process and the need for Washington to engage in efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just peace that enhances prospects of stability and security in the region.
At the meeting, discussions covered developments in the Middle East.
For their part, delegation members expressed appreciation for King Abdullah’s efforts seeking a just, permanent and comprehensive peace in the region.
