His Majesty King Abdullah today held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who traveled to Amman for a two-hour visit. King Abdullah also telephoned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a discussion about the latest developments on the Palestinian scene.

An informed source at the Royal Hashemite Court said that during the phone call, King Abdullah briefed Abbas on his talks with Olmert and that the King and President Abbas agreed to continue coordination between Jordan and the Palestinian National Authority to discuss all possible ways to revive the peace process. The King said that Jordan was ready to exert every effort to help the Palestinians overcome their differences and foster national unity. He said Jordan is keeping all options open, including proposing to convene a meeting in Amman that can bring together President Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah to discuss ways to end political tensions between Hamas and Fatah.

King Abdullah expressed Jordan's concern to stop bloodshed in the Palestinian territories and end fighting between Palestinian factions.

The source said that Olmert came to Jordan upon a request from King Abdullah, who has been urging a resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

During the meeting, King Abdullah urged Israel to enter into negotiations with the Palestinians so that an appropriate framework could be found to re-launch the peace process. The King told the Israeli prime minister that, in order to foster confidence in the peace process, it was critical to show people on both sides of the conflict that there are credible partners for peace. He said that the benefits of peace can only be derived through negotiations and adherence to international commitments to reach a permanent settlement that will be accepted and defended by generations to come.

The King warned that time was being wasted with blame-laying and exchanges of accusations. He said any hesitance to take action that reinforces chances for peace pulls the Middle East closer to a cycle of violence for which everyone in the region will pay a heavy price.

His Majesty said that the people of the region are tired of waiting and of moving from one peace conference to another without visible, on-the-ground achievements. He emphasized that policies of unilateralism and of forceful imposition of facts on the ground have failed. Therefore, he said, both sides must acknowledge that they have to reach a political settlement that achieves the aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace and security. King Abdullah said that if Palestinians and Israelis share this conviction, the international community will stand by them and offer them every possible assistance. However, the King warned that there would be no strong Palestinian partner for peace without serious support from Israel and the international community.

King Abdullah warned that without a prompt resolution of the conflict, everyone in the region will lose. He said a two-state solution should be the basis for the revival of negotiations. He added that this is the only logical solution and the only way to fulfill the Palestinians' aspiration to establish a sovereign, viable state and Israelis' need to achieve security and stability.

The King urged Israel to give serious consideration to the Arab Peace Initiative, which he described as a framework for resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict on all fronts.

Olmert discussed the steps that Israel can take in the near future to re-launch the peace process with the Palestinians. He said both sides need the international community to stand by them more than ever to achieve peace.