His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday welcomed the Palestinian reconciliation deal, finalised in Cairo yesterday, to end the Palestinian division and unite the Palestinian people.

King Abdullah made the remarks during a meeting with several Palestinian figures, who arrived from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to express their appreciation for the King’s continuous efforts to support the Palestinian people and achieve their aspirations.

“Jordan will continue to support you politically and economically during the next stage until reaching the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on Palestinian national soil,” the King said.

Regarding Jerusalem, King Abdullah stressed that Jordan will continue its role in protecting holy sites as well as supporting the steadfastness of Palestinians in Jerusalem and in confronting Israeli unilateral measures that seek to alter the identity of the Holy City.

Talks also focused on the measures that should be taken to improve Palestinians’ living conditions.

The meeting, which continued over a lunch banquet, was attended by the King’s media adviser, Amjad Adaileh, charge d’affaires at Jordan’s representative office in Ramallah, Ahmad Innab, and Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation Secretary General Ahmad Emyan.

Jordan’s assistance to the West Bank and Gaza accounted for $35 million in 2010, according to Emyan.

The assistance included foodstuff, medicines and medical supplies in addition to the field hospitals deployed in the West Bank and Gaza.

The aid also included wheelchairs and copies of the Holy Koran printed in Braille. Jordan also facilitates the entry of assistance from other world countries.

The delegation members stressed in remarks to the press King Abdullah’s support of the Palestinian cause, and commended the role of Jordanian field hospitals in Jenin, Ramallah, Nablus and the Gaza Strip, noting that the field hospital in the coastal enclave deals with 27,000 cases monthly.

The community leaders, who included former Nablus Mayor Ghassan Shakaa, Hebron Mayor Fouad Hussein and President of the Awqaf Council in Jerusalem Abdul Azim Salhab among others, highlighted the Kingdom’s support for Palestinian people, and the dangers inherent in the Israeli measures in Jerusalem and other Palestinian territories.

In separate interviews with the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the delegates pointed to the difficulties facing Palestinian people in the educational and health fields as a direct result of the Israeli occupation.