His Majesty King Abdullah II underscored the importance of intensifying American efforts to help Palestinians and Israelis move forward in the peace process.

In a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, King Abdullah stressed the importance of achieving a just and lasting political settlement to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as soon as possible.

Secretary Rice is in Amman as part of a trip to the region to discuss ways to advance the peace process. She met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman earlier today and with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday in Jerusalem.

In the meeting, the King said that the Palestinians must also be able to experience an improvement in their economic conditions.

King Abdullah said Israel's continued policy of unilateralism, in particular its practices in Jerusalem and settlement expansion, constitutes real impediments to international and regional efforts to achieve peace.

He warned that failure to achieve progress in the peace process would threaten the region's future, and in turn deepen the sense of despair and widen the circle of violence.

The King and Secretary Rice also discussed bilateral relations between Jordan and the US. King Abdullah expressed his appreciation for American assistance.

Secretary Rice renewed the US administration's commitment to achieve peace in the Middle East and to work with both Israelis and Palestinians towards that goal. She said ways needed to be found to ease movement and access for Palestinians on the West Bank to facilitate economic development.

She also renewed the administration's support for Jordan's economic program.

Secretary Rice will complete her visit with additional meetings with Palestinian and Israeli leaders and officials tomorrow, when she will once again meet with President Abbas in Amman.