His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday met in London with British Prime Minister David Cameron and warned against the consequences of Israel’s unilateral measures in the occupied Palestinian territories.
King Abdullah emphasised that Britain can play a vital role in peace efforts that lead to the emergence of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in peace beside Israel.
The King said the role that Europe, including the UK, and the US can play, especially during President Barack Obama’s second term, would be key to reviving peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.
His Majesty stressed the importance of building on the latest UN General Assembly decision to upgrade Palestine’s status to a non-member observer state.
The King and Cameron also discussed international efforts to maintain the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza fighters. His Majesty pointed to the Jordanian efforts to help the Palestinians in Gaza, in particular the military field hospital dispatched by the Kingdom to the Strip since 2009.
They also discussed the situation and the exacerbating violence in Syria. The King warned of the consequences it could have on the entire region. His Majesty emphasised the need for a political solution to the Syrian issue that would ensure an end to the violence and preserve Syrian unity. He also pointed to the burden Jordan is shouldering by hosting more than a quarter-of-a-million Syrian refugees, and the need for international assistance to help the Kingdom shoulder this responsibility.
The King and Cameron also discussed bilateral ties, and ways in which Jordan’s political reform efforts can benefit from the British experience in governance.
They also discussed ways to increase cooperation in the economic and tourism sectors, and take interfaith dialogue to the next level.
His Majesty highlighted a recent initiative being designed by the King Abdullah II Development Fund to create a programme that focuses on civic engagement and promotion of democratic values and dialogue.
The King explained to Cameron the objectives of the Royal Committee for Enhancing the National Integrity System, which, he said, will be a pillar of the reform process in the Kingdom.
Both initiatives were announced this week as part of a holistic approach to political reform.
The King on Tuesday also discussed with British Foreign Secretary William Hague the situation in the Middle East, peace efforts and developments on the Syrian front, in addition to other issues of mutual concern.
They discussed the reform process in Jordan, and ways to develop collaboration between Jordan and the UK in various domains.
Hague said Britain values Jordan’s efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East, and the King’s efforts to achieve political and economic reform, in addition to the Jordanian aid to the Syrian refugees.
Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, Director of His Majesty’s Office Imad Fakhoury, and Jordan’s Ambassador to the UK Mazen Hmoud attended the two meetings.