King urges US to ‘actively’ push for peace

AMMAN (JT) — King Abdullah on Sunday urged the US to “actively” push for reviving Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, a Royal Court statement said.

The King warned at a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Amman that the “cycle of violence will widen” in the Middle East unless the roadmap peace plan is implemented in the “near future”.

He called on the US to support the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas.

“A just and durable resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, is key to achieve a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict,” the statement quoted the King as saying.

Rice, on a regional tour, briefed King Abdullah on her talks with Abbas on Sunday

She said Washington was committed to establishing a Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel.

She added the US administration seeks to push for resuming Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.

Rice commended King Abdullah’s efforts to help establish peace and stability in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, King Abdullah and Rice reviewed developments in Iraq.

He said all Iraqis should take part in efforts to restore their country’s stability and security, otherwise, the King added, more violence was expected.

“As a key component of the Iraqi social fabric, Sunnis must be included as partners in building Iraq’s future,” the Monarch stressed.

According to the statement, Rice spoke about Washington’s new Iraq strategy, announced last week by US President George W. Bush.

King Abdullah said Jordan appreciates US support for reform programmes in the Kingdom.