His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday held talks with Hamas politburo Chief Khaled Mishaal, stressing his support for Palestinian reconciliation to strengthen the unity of the Palestinian people and enable them to regain their legitimate rights.
During the meeting, attended by HRH Prince Ali, King Abdullah said the UN recognition of Palestine as a non-member observer state was a major step that will help the Palestinian people regain their rights and set up an independent state on their national soil.
His Majesty highlighted his recent meetings with key regional and international parties involved in the peace process to push for a resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and break the current diplomatic stalemate. He also asserted the Kingdom’s commitment to continue to provide all forms of assistance possible to help the Palestinian people overcome their difficult conditions.
Mishaal thanked the King for his efforts to support the Palestinian people’s steadfastness, commending the Jordanian military field hospital in Gaza and His Majesty’s support for the restoration of holy sites in Jerusalem.
He said Hamas was committed to all actions and steps that unite the Palestinian people and that it absolutely rejects any proposals for an alternative homeland.
In statements to the press following the meeting, Mishaal, who arrived in Amman late Sunday, said the aim of his visit was “to consult with the Jordanian leadership on all issues, especially the Palestinian issue.”
“There is a high degree of understanding and we are committed to more coordination with the Jordanian leadership,” he told reporters.
The main topic discussed in the meeting was the Palestinian issue and its future, especially after the Israeli and US elections, Mishaal noted. Talks also covered Palestinian reconciliation efforts and other regional issues, he added.
At the press conference, Mishaal also confirmed that Palestinian reconciliation was progressing steadily, highlighting recent meetings in Cairo with the support of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.
He said a timeframe had been set for the coming months to examine five files: the government, the Palestine Liberation Organisation, elections, public freedoms and community reconciliation.
The Hamas leader stressed that any talk of a confederation between Jordan and Palestine was rejected at this stage, stressing that “Jordan is Jordan and Palestine is Palestine.”
“Any discussion about relations between the Jordanian and Palestinian states should take place after the state of Palestine is established on the ground,” Mishaal noted, stressing that the two states would then agree on the type of relationship that serves their mutual interests.
Monday’s meeting was the third between the King and Mishaal in less than a year.