Jordan's King Abdullah II said Monday the ongoing political turmoil in the Middle East should not prevent the United States and the world community from pushing ahead with efforts to bring the Palestinians and Israel back to the negotiating table.
"The current changes in the Middle East should not hinder our determination to reactivate the peace process," the monarch told a visiting delegation of US congressional aides, dpa reported.
"The monarch underscored the importance of the US' leading role" in resuming the direct talks that should lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, a royal court statement said.
The Palestinians broke off the US-brokered direct talks with Israel at the end of September after the Israeli government failed to extend a moratorium on the building of settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
King Abdullah also assured the US delegation that his country was moving ahead with efforts to bring about "comprehensive political and economic reforms based on dialogue" among various components of the Jordanian people.