Jordan’s King renews promise of Palestinian negotiations

Abdullah: 2-state solution is the only route to peace in the Middle East Amman – Osama Al Rantissi King Abdullah II of Jordan and Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal met in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Monday to discuss European and Jordanian efforts to revive negotiations with Israel to reach a final two-state solution .
The King highlighted the need to support Palestinian reconciliation efforts, saying they are "essential to augmenting the unity of the Palestinian people and enabling them to attain their legitimate rights."  
Speaking at the meeting with Meshaal, King Abdullah II described Palestine's recently upgraded UN status upgrade [to non-member observer status] as an “essential step on the road toward the establishment of an independent state on Palestinian national soil."
The King also referred to a series of meetings he held recently with a number of regional and global forces to influence the peace process.
Abdullah said he urged countries to push to restart negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, "unfreezing" the peace process and setting a clear timetable for the realisation of a two-state solution. The King described the solution as "the only route to security and stability in the Middle East."
Meshaal meanwhile expressed his appreciation for the King's efforts and applauded the services provided by the Jordanian military field hospital in the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas leader claimed that Gaza authorities were interested in preserving “everything that augments the Palestinian people’s unity,” adding that the Islamic movement “entirely rejects” any proposals for an “alternative homeland.”
The meeting was also attended by Imad Fakhouri, the director of King Abdullah's office, along with a delegation accompanying Meshaal.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Meshaal revealed discussions had focused on the Palestinian issue and its future in the wake of recent Israeli and US elections. Reconciliation was also discussed, he added.
"We have set the timeline for the steps we will be taking over the coming weeks and months in the following five areas: the government, the Palestine Liberation Organisation [PLO], elections, public freedoms and societal reconciliation,” Meshaal told reporters.
Describing a "historically renowned” relationship between Jordan and Palestine, Meshaal said: "Jordan is Jordan and Palestine is Palestine. Any talk of the relationship between the Jordanian and Palestinian state must wait until the Palestinian state has been established in reality," he said.
"Talk of a confederacy now, before the Palestinian state has been established, is unacceptable."