Jordan's king warns of 'dangerous Israeli escalation' against Palestinians

Abdullah II asserted that developments over recent days "would increase the suffering of the Palestinian people."

By MICHAEL WILNER
Protesters holding Palestinian flags and shouting anti-Israel slogans are reflected in a man's sunglasses during a protest near the Israeli embassy in Amman. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Protesters holding Palestinian flags and shouting anti-Israel slogans are reflected in a man's sunglasses during a protest near the Israeli embassy in Amman.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
VIENNA – King Abdullah II of Jordan fears Israel’s military operation against Hamas in Gaza will undermine efforts to achieve a two-state solution, and will further entrench the plight of Palestinians, he told US Vice President Joe Biden in Washington.
Referring to the crisis in the Gaza Strip as a “dangerous Israeli escalation,” the Jordanian ruler asserted on Thursday that developments over recent days “would increase the suffering of the Palestinian people and foil attempts to resume peace talks between Palestinians and the Israelis.”
Referring to the same meeting, the White House made only passing mention of discussion between Biden and Abdullah on the Gaza crisis.
The two men also discussed the threat of the Islamic State group to the region, and how its advances in Iraq and Syria will require a regional response.
“The king also warned against the vacuum caused by the stalled negotiations on the final-status issues which are based on the two-state solution,” the Jordanian government said.