Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His majesty King Abdullah II met today with President Mahmoud Abbas at the Hussaineh Palace in Amman during which he briefed him on the latest developments in the Palestinian issue, particularly the latest Israeli demolition of dozens of apartments in Wadi al-Hummus in Sur Baher neighborhood of occupied Jerusalem, which is under full Palestinian control, as well as Israeli assaults on land and holy places.

The President praised Jordan and King Abdullah’s position towards the Palestinian people, their cause and just demands.

The two leaders also discussed ways to deal with the ongoing challenges at all levels including Israel’s withholding of Palestinian funds, the continuation of its destructive settlement activities and the demolition of homes in Wadi al-Hummus.

Speaking to Palestine TV and WAFA correspondents, President Abbas stressed that the meeting with the Jordanian monarch comes within the framework of their brotherly relations and consultation on various issues, especially in light of the difficult circumstances facing the Palestinians cause.

On the meeting of the Palestinian leadership tomorrow in Ramallah, the President said that the most important topic at the table will be the demolition of houses in Area A, which is under full Palestinian control as per the Oslo Accords. "We do not condone demolition in areas A or C, but this is the first time there is demolition in Area A , which we consider extremely offensive and an aggression against Palestinian rights."

He added, "We must take in the meeting a clear, explicit and specific position from all these measures.”

For his part, the Jordanian monarch affirmed his country's stand on the side of the Palestinian people and their just cause until they achieve their legitimate and just rights and establish their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He stressed the need to intensify international efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace, based on the two-state solution as the only solution to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

He also stressed the need to preserve the legal and historical status quo in the city of Jerusalem, pointing out that Jordan continues to play its historical and religious role in protecting the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, based on the Hashemite guardianship over these holy sites.

He reiterated Jordan's rejection of Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territories, the demolition of dozens of Palestinian homes, and the need for the international community to stop these acts targeting the Arab identity of the Holy City.

The meeting was attended by Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, member of Fatah Central Committee and chairman of the Civil Affairs Authority, Hussein al-Sheikh, the President’s advisor on diplomatic affairs, Majdi Khalidi, and Palestine’s ambassador to Jordan, Attallah Khairi.

On the Jordanian side, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi and the King's Advisor for Communication and Coordination Bishr Khasawneh attended the meeting.