AMMAN: Leaders of Jordan and Egypt on Monday called on Israel to stop all unilateral actions, including the building of settlements in East Jerusalem and other areas of the West Bank, according to a joint communique.
Jordan's King Abdallah made a whirlwind visit to the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh, where he met with President Hosni Mubarak to review the latest regional and international efforts aimed at re-launching "serious and effective" negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on the basis of the two-state solution.
"The two leaders stressed the need for Israel to stop all unilateral measures, particularly the construction of settlements and other moves that jeopardise the identity of Jerusalem and holy places there," the statement said.
Abdallah and Mubarak contended that any solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict "should address all Arab rights particularly the Palestinian people's right to freedom and an independent state, and guarantee security and regional stability in accordance with the Arab peace initiative".
The Arab peace plan offers Israel recognition by all Arab states if it quits all Arab territories it occupied during the 1967 Middle East war, including East Jerusalem.
Mubarak also briefed the Jordanian head of state on the outcome of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited Egypt last week, the communiqué said.
By Abdul Jalil Mustafa
© Arab News 2010
