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Biden hailed Jordan and underscored the importance of King Abdullah II’s leadership to the United States and the region…reports Asian Lite News

President Joe Biden spoke with Jordan’s King Abdullah II to voice US support for his leadership and affirmed the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

Biden expressed “strong US support for Jordan and underscore the importance of King Abdullah II’s leadership to the United States and the region,” the White House said in a statement on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral ties, Jordan’s important role in the region, and strengthening cooperation on political, economic, and security issues.

“The President also affirmed that the United States supports a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the statement added.

AMMAN, May 25, 2019 (Xinhua) — Jordan’s King Abdullah II (C) reviews the Royal Guard of Honor during the ceremony of the 73rd anniversary of the Independence of Jordan in Amman, Jordan, May 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Mohammad Abu Ghosh/IANS)

The phone call came as Jordan returns to stability from a royal rift over the weekend. King Abdullah II said on Wednesday that Prince Hamza, who was accused of being part of a plot to destabilize Jordan by authorities, was in the king’s care.

In a letter to the nation published by the Royal Hashemite Court, the king said the “sedition has been nipped in the bud” and Jordan is safe and stable.

The Biden administration on the same day announced plans to restore US assistance for the Palestinian people.

Also read:I will not abide by what they say:Ex-Jordanian Crown Prince

Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement introduced a US $235 million package of economic, development, and humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, a large portion of which will go to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Former US President Donald Trump cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Palestinians, and during his administration, diplomatic contacts with Palestinians came to a virtual halt.

After Trump declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel in December 2017, the Palestinian Authority broke off all official relations with the White House and the State Department, though security cooperation continued.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council last month that Washington will “re-open diplomatic channels of communication” with Palestinians that has been cut off under the previous administration.

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US to resume ties with Palestine

Our administration will take steps to re-open diplomatic channels of communication that were halted during the last administration,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield…reports Asian Lite News

The US will “re-open diplomatic channels of communication” with Palestine that had been cut off by the administration of former President Donald Trump, Washington’s Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council.

“Since January, our diplomatic engagement has been guided by the premise that sustainable progress toward peace must be based on active consultations with both sides,” Thomas-Greenfield said on Thursday during a virtual briefing on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

“To that end, our administration will take steps to re-open diplomatic channels of communication that were halted during the last administration,” the envoy added.

US President Joe Biden

“Our engagements all have the same aim: to build support for a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

Thomas-Greenfield, while expressing her country’s “continued support for Israel”, noted that the US wishes to “see both Israelis and Palestinians take steps toward a two-state solution”.

On the two-state solution, the ambassador said, “under President (Joe) Biden’s leadership, the US has recommitted to the vision of a mutually agreed two-state solution, one in which Israel lives in peace and security alongside a viable Palestinian state”.

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“We believe this vision is the best way to ensure Israel’s future as a democratic and Jewish state, while upholding the Palestinian people’s legitimate aspirations for a state of their own and to live with dignity and security,” she said.

Thomas-Greenfield noted that Biden is restoring US assistance programs that support economic development and humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people.

“Specifically, the US is pleased to announce today $15 million in humanitarian assistance to support the most vulnerable communities in the West Bank and Gaza,” she added.

Trump cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Palestinians, and during his administration, diplomatic contacts with Palestinians came to a virtual halt.

After Trump declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel in December 2017, the Palestinian Authority severed all official relations with the White House and the State Department, though security cooperation continued.

Also read:Turkey-Russia deal for Syrian ceasefire