His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday reiterated Jordan’s full support for the Palestinians in their aspirations to establish their independent and sovereign state on their national soil.
During a visit to Ramallah for a summit with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, King Abdullah said he will work with US President Barack Obama immediately as of the start of his second term to ensure active US engagement in the peace process to arrive at the two-state solution.
His Majesty congratulated the Palestinians on the UN vote in favour of upgrading Palestine’s status to non-member observer state.
The King, the first head of state to visit Ramallah after the vote, described the UN General Assembly’s resolution as “historic”, reflecting the international community’s concern for the Palestinian cause and the need to find a just and permanent solution to the issue, based on the two-state solution.
This historic decision constitutes a solid ground towards achieving the aspirations of Palestinians to establish an independent Palestinian state through direct negotiations that address final status issues, which are also a Jordanian interest, His Majesty said.
During his meeting with Abbas at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah, attended by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and Director of His Majesty’s Office Imad Fakhoury and other officials, the King underlined that Jordan will continue supporting the Palestinian Authority’s efforts in the international arena to realise the Palestinians’ ambitions to win their independence and establish their state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
His Majesty added that the two-state solution enjoys international consensus and is the only way to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The King and Abbas agreed to continue coordination to build on the important achievement at the UN in order to restore momentum to the peace process and achieve a comprehensive and just peace.
The two leaders condemned the Israeli government’s decision to establish 3,000 settler housing units in the Palestinian territories. They underlined that these measures come in defiance of the international community’s will, hamper efforts to bring about peace, breach international laws and prevent the geographical contiguity of the Palestinian state.
During the talks, attended by Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, PLO Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat and foreign minister Riyad Al Malki, Abbas thanked Jordan for its relentless support of the Palestinian cause and commended the King's role in defending Palestine at international forums.
In recognition of His Majesty’s visit and backing of the Palestinians' statehood bid, the Palestinian leader ordered Ramallah municipal authorities to name one of the city's key squares ‘King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein Square.’
Abbas led top Palestinian officials in an official welcoming ceremony accorded to the King upon arrival in Ramallah earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, Ensour and Judeh met with their Palestinian counterparts Salam Fayyad and Riyad Malki, respectively.