King calls for stepping up efforts toward calm, de-escalation in Palestinian Territories

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday held a meeting with Deputy Assistant to the US President and White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk, attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein.

At the meeting — attended by HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy — King Abdullah highlighted the need to step up efforts toward calm and de-escalation in the Palestinian Territories, and to cease any unilateral measures that could lead to instability and undermine peace prospects, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty called for relaunching negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis to reach just and comprehensive peace, on the basis of the two-state solution, guaranteeing the establishment of an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The King noted Jordan’s steadfast efforts to safeguard holy sites in Jerusalem, under the Hashemite Custodianship.

The meeting also covered the latest regional and international developments, as well as means of enhancing the strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States, while maintaining coordination on issues of mutual concern.

Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara A. Leaf attended the meeting.