WORLD> Middle East
Jordan urges early US involvement in Palestinian-Israeli conflict
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-22 18:57

AMMAN -- Jordan's King Abdullah II called for an early US involvement in Palestinian-Israeli conflict, local daily The Jordan Times reported on Thursday.

The king made the remarks on Wednesday when receiving a telephone call from US President Barack Obama, during which they discussed the latest regional developments as well as bilateral ties.

The king, who congratulated Obama on his inauguration as the US president, underlined the importance of the early US involvement in "serious" and effective peace negotiations to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as soon as possible on the basis of the two-state formula.

He said he looks forward to working with the president to resolve regional issues, especially the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Israel's three-week offensive has left 1,340 Palestinians dead, including 460 children and 106 women, and another 5,320 wounded, according to Palestinian figures quoted by the UN.

Thirteen Israelis were reported killed in the conflict, including four from rocket fire.

Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States Tuesday at an inaugural ceremony on Capitol Hill, becoming the first black president in US history.

In a bid to pushing the Middle East peace process, Obama called leaders in the Middle East countries on Wednesday everning, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan' s King Abdullah.