WORLD> Middle East
Jordan's king concerns about Palestinian-Israeli peace process
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-29 17:03

AMMAN -- Jordan's king Abdullah II voiced concern about the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis when interviewed by the French magazine of L'Express Thursday, local daily The Jordan Times reported on Friday.

Abdullah, who is currently visiting Paris, called on Israel and western countries, particularly the US, to provide more support for the Palestinian Authority in order to bring the conflict to an end.

He noted that Israelis lack the long-term vision and only see the fortress Israel of today, without thinking forward to the future where their state would be integrated into the region. "For this reason, I am concerned that the peace process is in jeopardy. "

He observed that a Palestinian state is the only acceptable solution in the eyes of the Muslims and the Arabs. Nothing will happen as long as the Palestinians do not have a state.

The king also rejected the argument that it is not realistic to talk about a settlement as long as Hamas controls Gaza and that the Palestinian camp is divided.

He said western countries pay too much attention to Hamas at the expense of the Palestinian Authority. If the Israeli, American and European leaders consider Hamas to be a pariah, then they should support the Palestinian National Authority more.

On Israel's news settlements plan in the West Bank, the king said this is a sign of a lack of interest in Israel for solution foreseeing two states.

The settlements, along with the negotiations with Syria and other Israeli initiatives lately, "convince me that Israel is not seeking to solve the Palestinian issue in spite of their rhetoric regarding the issue."

The king has been on a visit to France as part of a several-day working tour which had taken him to Russia and Turkmenistan.