Jordan urges Israel not to hinder peace talks with unilateral measures

Jordan's King Abdullah II urged Israel on Wednesday not to take unilateral measures that could compromise peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Abdullah, who met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the Red Sea resort of Aqaba, stressed Israelis should especially avoid measures that affect "final status issues." Israel must halt "settlement activities in all the Palestinian territories" a Royal Palace statement said. The king pledged to support the Palestinian position and efforts that aim at finding lasting solutions to "all the essential issues," the statement also said.