Haartez: Jordanian King: Besieging Arafat will make the Abbas mission complex

In a statement with the Israeli daily Haartez, the Jordanian King Abdullah II warned that the besiege of the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat at the headquarters of his leadership in Ramullah will complicate matters for the Palestinian prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

The King told the paper that Arafat "is the leader who was elected by the Palestinians and his besiege will increase the complication of matters for the Palestinian prime minister Mahmnoud Abbas, rather than helps solving problems." The Jordanian King considered that the peace process will not proceed unless Abbas's position is enhanced. A matter which the Israelis, especially the Israeli leadership can help in this regard."

He expressed his hope that the Roadmap to peace will be conducive to settling the Palestinian- Israeli conflict.

The Jordanian King made these statements in conclusion of his meeting in Amman with a Palestinian- Israeli delegation for peace including two Israeli parliamentarians of the Shenwe ( secular ) party one of the main Israeli governmental coalition pillars led by the prime minister Ariel Sharon.