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Friday, April 24, 2009
Israel must choose between integration and isolation in the Middle East, Jordan's King Abdullah II said Friday on a visit to the United States.
He also warned that delaying a two-state solution would be disastrous for both Israel and the Palestinians, according to reports from Haaretz Service and Reuters.
'Israel now has to make its choice — to integrate into the region ... with normal relations with its neighbors or to remain fortress Israel,' the king said, Reuters reported.
The king said the 2002 Arab peace initiative was the best option for Israel. The initiative would establish normal ties between Israel and all Arab states in return for it relinquishing territory gained in the 1967 Middle East war, the creation of a Palestinian state and a 'just solution' for its refugees, Reuters reported.
He said the 2002 Arab peace initiative was the best option for Israel and he urged it to take up the offer.
The United States will be key to peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and both sides are already testing President Obama's resolve, he said.
'I cannot emphasize enough how important U.S. partnership is to help Israel accept the opening the Arab world.
