His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday pledged Jordan's continued support for the Palestinian people and their efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state on their national soil.

In an address to the nation marking the Kingdom's 61st anniversary of independence, King Abdullah said Jordan will continue to pursue every angle of diplomacy to call for a permanent and comprehensive peace that guarantees the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.

“When we talk about the Palestinian issue, and call on the world to commit itself to ending the injustice which the Palestinian people suffer… we are not speaking on the Palestinians' behalf,” His Majesty said while calling on the international community to rally behind the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative which was reaffirmed at an Arab summit in March.

The King also called for international pressure on Israel to accept the initiative, warning that time is running out to reach a just solution to the issue.

King Abdullah also vowed to confront sectarian strife, which he said is turning the region into a struggle between regional and international powers.

His Majesty called on Jordanians to take part in upcoming municipal and parliamentary elections and to support the candidates that best represent the entire country, and “not to be deceived by flashy slogans, nor by endless promises.

“The duty of deputies is to monitor and legislate. Every deputy represents the entire homeland, not just a single neighborhood, or tribe or party. An intrinsic part of every deputy's role as a monitor is to fight favoritism, and nepotism, not to practise or turn a blind eye to them” the King said.

The celebration was attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania, members of the Royal family, government officials, members of the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament, religious scholars and representatives of the country's professional associations.

The Jordan Times