Jordan Times
Sunday, June 11, 2006
King discusses outcomes of Olmert visit with Abbas
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah on
Friday telephoned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to express Jordan’s
support for the Palestinian people and discuss the latest developments in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip.
During the conversation, King Abdullah briefed the Palestinian president on the
outcome of his talks with Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, during which the
King stressed the need for Palestinians and Israelis to resume peace
negotiations on the basis of the roadmap.
During a 90-minute meeting with the Israeli prime minister on Thursday, King
Abdullah reiterated Jordan’s commitment to help the two sides resume
negotiations, stating the necessity of a two-state solution.
The King reiterated to Abbas Jordan’s support for the Palestinian people in
order to help them overcome their current economic hardships.
Abbas also briefed King Abdullah on the deteriorating conditions in the
Palestinian territories and Israel’s increasing bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
On Friday, Israeli gunboats shelled the beach in Gaza killing seven civilians,
three of them children.
Abbas described the attack as a “massacre.”
The government, which said the Israeli acts constituted a crime, added that such
actions run contrary to efforts to kick-start the peace process.
Government Spokesperson Nasser Judeh said Israel’s escalation of violence
against the Palestinians would only increase tensions between the two sides and
called on Israel to calm the situation and intensify efforts to move the peace
process forward.