Jordan's King Abdullah II warned on Monday that efforts to achieve Palestinian-Israeli peace are going through a "very critical stage," the palace said.
"Efforts for creating peace in the region and ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are going through a very critical stage," a palace statement quoted the king as telling a delegation of the US-based J Street Jewish advocacy group, which is on a regional tour.
"This requires well-coordinated and intensified work by the international community to resolve the conflict in line with a two state-solution, which is the only way for peace."
He told the delegation, which includes US congressmen, that "any delay in launching serious Palestinian-Israeli negotiations will lead to more violence in the region."
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday in Qatar that she is "hopeful that this year will see the commencement of serious negotiations" between Israel and the Palestinians.
The Palestinians broke off talks after Israel launched a devastating assault on the Gaza Strip in December 2008 and have said they will only return to the negotiating table if Israel first freezes all settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, including annexed Arab east Jerusalem.
Jordan, a key US ally, signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994.
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