Feb 26, 2007, 22:55 GMT
Amman - Jordan's King Abdullah II and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Monday condemned Israel's incursion into the West Bank city of Nablus, according to a joint communiqué issued after the two leaders met in Riyadh.
'The two leaders denounced the violations being practised by Israel in the Palestinian territories, particularly its violations in the city of Nablus that have been continuing since last night,' the statement said.
Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian and injured his son Monday on the second day of a large-scale operation in the West Bank's biggest city.
Efforts under way to ensure a resumption of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians were high on the agenda of the two pro-West monarchs in Riyadh Monday.
Jordanian King Abdullah II also said his forthcoming discussions at the weekend with US President George W Bush in Washington 'will focus on the need for speeding up efforts to push forward the Middle East peace process and finding breakthroughs for the region's crises,' according to the statement.
The Jordanian leader is scheduled to start a tour of Britain and the United States on Wednesday that includes talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair and Bush.
He is also due to address a joint session of the two houses of the US Congress to alert them to the risks inherent in the failure to forge a peaceful settlement between the Palestinians and Israel, according to an official statement.
The two leaders called on the Palestinians to 'abide by the Mecca agreement in such manner that consolidates the Palestinian national unity through the formation of a government capable of confronting challenges facing the Palestinians, including the lifting of the siege imposed on the Palestinian people.'
The Saudi-brokered Mecca accord was concluded on February 8 between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah group and the ruling Hamas movement.
Under the provisions of the deal, Hamas agreed to 'respect' agreements already concluded between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, but did not explicitly recognize Israel's existence.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Western nations have insisted on Hamas' unequivocal recognition of Israel as a pre- requisite for lifting economic sanctions imposed by the world's key donors on the Palestinian Authority after Hamas' election victory in January 2006.
Jordan's King Abdullah told Israeli television three days ago that Hamas should meet the conditions set by the Middle East Quartet - made up of the US, UN, EU and Russia - which include recognition of Israel and renouncing violence.
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