Syria and Jordan on Thursday called on the international community to help lift the Israeli political and economic blockage against the Palestinians.

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otri and his Jordanian counterpart Marouf al-Bakhet made the call in a joint statement issued after the 11th session of the Syrian-Jordanian Higher Committee held in the Syrian capital Damascus.

The two leaders also urged Israel to abide by relevant international resolutions aimed to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts.

The two premiers stressed the importance to strengthening the internal unity of the Palestinian factions, which they said was the only guarantee to achieve the legal rights of the Palestinian people and confront the current severe challenges.

The two sides also called for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East region achieved by following the principle of "land for peace."

The joint statement by Syria and Jordan came as tensions between the Palestinians and Israel have been drastically heightened since Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip in a massive ground operation on Wednesday to free an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Palestinian militants.

In addition, the Syrian and Jordanian premiers also condemned in the statement all forms of terrorism, calling for an international conference presided by the United Nations to discuss the root of terrorism and the means to distinguish between terrorism and legal resistance.

Meanwhile, the two sides renewed condemnation of using sanctions against a state as a means of pressure and blackmailing in international relations, calling for adoption of the principle of dialogue in solving conflicts and disputes to realize international security and stability.

Bakhet arrived in Damascus on Wednesday to co-chair the two-day joint committee meeting with Otri. It was his first trip here after being appointed prime minister of Jordan in November.

Bakhet also held a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al- Assad shortly after arrival, during which he presented Assad a message from Jordanian King Abdullah II on bilateral relations.

During the joint committee meeting, the two countries reached a number of agreements to boost cooperation in various fields such as trade, media, education, tourism and environment.

The previous meeting of the joint committee was held in February 2005.

Source: Xinhua