His Majesty King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak discussed developments in South Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, where a security crisis has escalated after Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and the exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces over the Lebanon-Israel border. During a phone call, the King and Mubarak said states needed to pro-actively work to end any further escalation that would only perpetuate the cycle of violence and reduce the chances of achieving peace in the region.