His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday urged intensified efforts to ensure the legitimate rights of the Palestinians as the world marks the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

The day, celebrated November 29 annually, comes this year at a time of extraordinary human suffering as a result of Israel's siege on the Gaza Strip which has prevented the entry of essential humanitarian assistance into the strip, King Abdullah said in a letter to Paul Badji, chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, according to a Royal Court statement.

The King stressed that supporting the committee and its core mission of serving the cause of the Palestinian refugees has a significant impact on keeping the refugee issue on the international agenda.

He noted that the international conference organised by the committee in Paris earlier this year is likely to enhance the UN's role in extending assistance to refugees.

King Abdullah reiterated in the letter that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the core issue in the region. Ending this conflict on the basis of the two-state solution is a prerequisite to security and stability in the entire region, he wrote.

King Abdullah urged all possible efforts to support negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis to reach a settlement that ensures the Palestinians their right to an independent state and leads to a just and comprehensive peace, in the manner proposed by the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

The King warned that the continuation of Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank, particularly in east Jerusalem, threatens the peace negotiations, chances for an independent Palestinian state and regional peace. He also called for a complete halt to Israeli unilateral measures, reiterating Jordan's demands that the Jewish state lift the blockade, open border crossings and lift restrictions imposed on the movement of Palestinians.

The King added that the continuation of these measures will increase the suffering of the Palestinians and hinder efforts to achieve tangible progress in the peace process.