His Majesty King Abdullah II today said it was imperative to ensure sustained engagement of the international community, especially the US, in reviving the Middle East peace process and returning Palestinians and Israelis to the negotiating table.

During a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, currently on a tour of the region, King Abdullah said he hoped that Washington would continue to play a major role in the peace process by creating the necessary environment for a resumption of negotiations on the basis of the two-state solution outlined in the Arab Peace Initiative and the Middle East Road Map.

The King said the US needed to support the Palestinian negotiator so that Palestinians could secure their internationally recognized legal rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on Palestinian territory.

The longer time passes without a framework that would help Palestinians and Israelis move forward, the greater the risk of an escalation of tensions, which is not in the interest of anyone, he said.

King Abdullah urged the US to support the Arab Peace Initiative, which, he said, reflects the sincere will of the Arab states to achieve peace with Israel in exchange for its withdrawal from occupied Arab lands. He said the initiative constitutes a framework for a comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

King Abdullah told Rice that Jordan was concerned about Israeli excavation works near Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. He said the international community is obliged to prevent Israel from violating the sanctity of the mosque.

The King also said that Jordan supported all efforts to foster security and stability in neighboring Iraq as well as to achieve national reconciliation among Iraqis. He reasserted the importance of including all Iraqis in national reconciliation efforts to ensure their success. He said this would minimize the interference of those who seek to divide Iraqi society.

Rice's regional tour has included Iraq, the Palestinian territories and Israel. While in Amman, Rice briefed King Abdullah on her trilateral meeting with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday. She said the US remained committed to Middle East peace and to an independent Palestinian state living in peace alongside Israel.

The US Secretary acknowledged King Abdullah's constructive role in the peace process, adding that his efforts serve the aspirations of the people of the region to live in peace and security.

She also addressed the situation in Iraq and the joint effort of US and Iraqi forces to prevent the deterioration of security in Iraq.