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Tension accelerates in
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Related: Abbas vows to hold
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| Jordan's King Abdullah (L) welcomes
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Royal Palace in Amman June 18,
2006. (Xinhua/Reuters photo) |
AMMAN, June 18
(Xinhua) -- Jordanian King Abdullah II met on Sunday with visiting Palestinian
leader Mahmoud Abbas on the deteriorating security and economic situation in the
Palestinian territories.
During the meeting, the king called on all parties on
the Palestinian front to exert efforts to overcome challenges facing the
Palestinian people.
He underlined the importance of ending any military
escalation and calming tension between the Palestinians and Israelis to build
confidence at this stage and ensure a quick return to the negotiating table.
He also urged the international community to shoulder
its responsibilities through ensuring the flow of international aid to the
Palestinian lands to avoid a humanitarian crisis.
The Palestinians were "the only ones affected by the
halt of aid," he said, adding Jordan will continue to work with othe rcountries
to solve the problem.
He also briefed Abbas on the outcome of his talks
with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on June 8, saying that a two-state
solution is the only solution that all parties in the Middle East and the
international community should work to achieve.
Abbas expressed appreciation for efforts exerted by
Jordan to help the Palestinians overcome difficult conditions.
The United States and the EU have cut off direct aid
to the Hamas-led Palestinian government since Hamas refuses to renounce
violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and honor previous
Palestinian-Israeli agreements.
Israel has also halted the monthly transfer of about
50 million U.S. dollars of tax revenues it collects on behalf of the
Palestinians since Hamas' sweeping election victory in January.
Such moves have led to a grave financial crisis, of which ordinary Palestinians bear the brunt and the Hamas government has been unable to pay about 160,000 civil servants since March. Enditem
