Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Tuesday branded as "very critical" the recent Israeli escalation in the West Bank and Gaza, underlining necessity for it to be halted.

According to a statement by the foreign ministry, Judeh made his remarks after meeting his visiting Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukri earlier today. He called on Israel to de-escalate the situation and come back to direct negotiations.

The call comes amidst regional and international decries over the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, which has left more than 14 people dead and several others injured so far.

Underlining necessity of attaining an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as capital within a two-state solution, Judeh noted that the region could not bear more tension, violence and instability.

On his part, Minister Shukri, in a joint press release with Judeh, called for "self-restraint and dealing with the crisis in a manner that would preserve the Palestinian people's interests and achieve its ambitions." Developments in Syria and Iraq were the key issue both top diplomats discussed. Shukri arrived in Jordan earlier today as part of a tour that will also take him to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

*KUNA