Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania returned from a several-day working visit to the US during which King Abdullah participated in the meetings of the 61st session of the UN General Assembly.

King Abdullah addressed the General Assembly with a speech, warning that continuing to allow aggression and occupation to supplant international law will undermine international justice and order.

The King said that the failure to end Israeli occupation, and several decades of consistent denial of Palestinian rights will give birth to new conflicts in the Middle East. He urged the international community to establish a just and lasting peace based on international legitimacy “to which [Arab states] pledged to respect and stick.”

He said adherence to the Arab Peace Initiative was the best hope for a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, which, he added is root of regional conflict.

Also during the visit, King Abdullah launched the Lower and Middle Income Countries Initiative, also know as the G11. The G11 groups Croatia, Ecuador, Georgia, Honduras, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and Jordan. El Salvador has also expressed interest in joining the group.

King Abdullah also inaugurated the Arab American Action Forum and attended the Clinton Global Initiative. Both institutions are meant to open channels of positive dialogue and understanding between the two parts. He also met a number of world leaders to discuss bilateral ties and practical steps needed to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.