Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on Tuesday received a delegation from the American Jewish Congress.

At the meeting, King Abdullah urged American Jewish organisations to support international efforts to attain peace that guarantees the rights of the Palestinians, especially their right to an independent state.

The envisioned peace settlement, he said, should also guarantee Israel's security in accordance with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which, he said, provides an unprecedented opportunity to bring about comprehensive peace between Israel and all Arab and Muslim countries that support the initiative.

Discussions also covered steps that can be taken to overcome obstacles to re-starting effective Palestinian-Israeli talks and achieving a two-state settlement as soon as possible.

King Abdullah said peace is a strategic interest for the region and the world, adding that intensive international action is needed to create an environment for peacemaking.

The King also warned that wasting the opportunity at hand to realise a comprehensive peace will cast doubt on the feasibility of the peace process and will cause more tension and conflict in the region, depriving its peoples from living in peace and thus affect the entire globe.