His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday said Israel’s continuation of its unilateral measures, particularly those aimed at altering the identity of  Jerusalem and its holy sites, is a main impediment to efforts to move the peace process forward.

At a meeting with a delegation from the Conference of Major American Jewish Organisations, the King underlined that Jordan will continue its efforts to help the Palestinians and Israelis return to the negotiating table and work with international stakeholders to overcome obstacles hindering endeavours to bring about peace based on the two-state solution. He added that the agreed-on solution should ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that lives side-by-side with Israel.

The King stressed the need for the US to continue to support efforts to arrive at a comprehensive peace that guarantees the rights of all concerned parties and restores safety and stability in the region.

King Abdullah noted that failure to move the peace process forward would heighten tensions in the region, where some countries are facing "unprecedented" political transformations.

Responding to a question on reform efforts in the Kingdom, His Majesty said he looked forward to Jordan having a parliamentary government and political parties that represent the right, centre and left currents and that have practical plans to address poverty and unemployment, in addition to other challenges that concern citizens.

For his part, the chairman of the conference, Richard Stone, commended His Majesty's vision for reform and efforts to build bridges of trust between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Stone and the rest of the delegates concluded their short visit to the Kingdom yesterday as part of a tour that also includes Israel and some European countries.

They noted that their meeting with the King was a chance for them to follow up in-depth on the latest developments in the region.