国际英语新闻：Jordan king, Abbas call for ending Israeli siege on Gaza Strip

AMMAN, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday urged the international community to take immediate and effective steps to end the "illegal and inhumane" Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip.

In a meeting in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Tuesday, the two leaders discussed necessary steps to develop a firm international position in facing the Israeli policies that hinder making progress in peace efforts, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

During the meeting, they emphasized the need for halting all unilateral Israeli measures that represent a clear violation of the international law and undermine efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state solution.

Jordanian King Abdullah II (R) meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, Jordan, June 22, 2010. The two leaders on Tuesday urged the international community to take immediate and effective steps to end the "illegal and inhumane" Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip.

The Jordanian leader said the international community must act swiftly and effectively to realize the required progress in the Middle East as the continuation of the current situation represents a danger to the Middle East and regional and international peace.

Talking to the press after the meeting, Abbas said discussions with the King covered what could be done after the end of the four- month deadline for proximity talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

"We also discussed the steps that need to be taken to lift the siege imposed on Gaza Strip and we both agree that Israel should end the blockade on all crossing borders into Gaza and to fully open them to all the goods the Palestinians need," said Abbas.

Israel has imposed a tight blockade on the coastal enclave since the Islamic Hamas movement forcibly seized the territory in 2007 after routing rival Fatah party which now rules the West Bank.

Since it imposed the siege, Israel has banned the entry of main food supplies into the coastal enclave, as well as oil, steel and construction materials.