Jordanian king calls for negotiated solution based on road map

Jordanian King Abdullah II emphasized Thursday that the two-state solution based on the "Road Map" is the only solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and must be achieved through Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.

"A negotiated agreement that leads to a viable and contiguous independent Palestinian state will help establish a just, comprehensive Middle East peace," King Abdullah told a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert after a 90- minute meeting in Amman.

Abdullah said that Olmert stressed his commitment to the Road Map, and to reaching a peace agreement in the near future in partnership with the Palestinians.

"I am pleased to learn that Olmert will be meeting soon with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas," the King said.

Olmert said that "in order to achieve the goal of a two-state solution that we all strive for, I assured His Majesty that I intend to meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas."

Olmert said that "political stalemate in the Middle East is bad for Israel, is bad for the Palestinians, and is also bad for Jordan and the region."

He also expressed hope that the Palestinian government would implement the demands of the Quartet and the international community to make it possible to hold negotiations on the basis of the roadmap.

Israel has boycotted Hamas-led Palestinian government since it took power following Hamas' surprising victory over Abbas' long- dominant Fatah movement in January parliamentary elections.

Hamas has resisted massive pressure to renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and accept signed accords with Israel, including a two-state peace plan.

King Abdullah has voiced his objection to any unilateral steps taken by Israel, fearing that it would destabilize the region and undermine Jordan's security.

According to Olmert's realignment plan, thousands of Jewish settlers will be unilaterally evacuated from isolated settlements in the West Bank before setting Israeli final borders without reaching peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Olmert said after a summit with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak late Sunday that he intended to meet Abbas and that negotiations with the Palestinians were Israel's priority.

Olmert said Thursday that Israel would do whatever possible to help alleviate the economic plight of the Palestinian people.

The European Union -- the biggest aid donor to the Palestinians- - and the United States both suspended direct aid to the Palestinian Authority after Hamas won January elections, while Israel has also blocked the transfer of revenues.

The Middle East Quartet comprising the European Union, the United Sates, Russia and the United Nations decided to create an aid mechanism that would bypass the Hamas-led government during a meeting in New York on May 9.

Source: Xinhua