AMMAN, Jordan, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Jordan's King Abdullah will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah this week, the king's political adviser said.
The visit scheduled for Thursday marks the first official visit of an Arab leader to the West Bank since the United Nations voted to upgrade the Palestinian status to that of a non-member observer state.
"His majesty's visit carries a strong message to the Israeli side, confirms Jordan's stand alongside the state of Palestine," Nimer Hammad, the king's political adviser told the Amman newspaper al-Ghad Tuesday.
The visit proves Jordan's support for the Palestinian people and their national rights, he said.
"The Palestinian leadership went to the United Nations because the Israeli side was not interested in ending the occupation and settlements and ready to recognize a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital," Hammad said.
Israel's decision to build 3,000 housing units in the West Bank and Jerusalem "was not surprising," Hammad said, warning if Israel continues such actions the Palestinian leadership will be justified in turning to the International Criminal Court to hold Israel accountable for its actions.
Atallah Khairi, the Palestinian ambassador in Amman, told the newspaper Abdullah's visit sends a strong message to the occupation [Israel], that Jordan supports the Palestinian rights."
Bilateral talks with Abbas will focus on enhancing cooperation on a variety of issues, he said.
