AMMAN, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's King Abdullah II on Thursday met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Red Sea resort of Aqaba, a senior Jordanian official said.

    The two leaders focused on "means of pushing ahead on peace negotiations with Israel on the basis of a two-state solution," the king's palace said in a statement.

    As for the Israeli blockade on Gaza Strip, which was controlled by Hamas since June 2007, the king said that "imposing more restraints on the Palestinians and increasing their suffering will create more tension."

    To revive the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiation, the king asked the Jewish country to take "immediate measures" to end the suffering of the Palestinians," the statement said.

    Earlier on Tuesday, Abdullah II urged Israel to stop its raids on the Gaza Strip and refrain from escalating military operations, in an secret meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, according to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth.

    Abdullah concerned about a large-scale action in Gaza might have serious impact on his country as well, said the report, adding despite Abdullah's request, the Israeli side made it clear that if the rocket attacks on the Gaza-vicinity communities continue, Israel would be forced to respond.