Following a clandestine meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, King Abdullah of Jordan invited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a chat in Aqaba, Thursday.

The two warned against any unilateral Israeli actions in Gaza or the West Bank and emphasized that an increased blockade of Gaza would only lead to increased Palestinian suffering and escalating tensions.

According to Jordanian newsagency 'Petra,' the Jordanian king asserted that the only way to achieve peace and security is by ending the conflict based on a two-state solution. He said that "Israel will not achieve security using military means."

Rather, he claimed, "the end of the occupation and the full provision of rights to the Palestinian people is the guarantor for security for Israel."

He added that peace between Israelis and Palestinians would constitute an important launching point for peace in the region, as can be seen in the Arab peace initiative from 2002.

For his part, Abbas presented Abdullah with an analysis of the situation vis-à-vis Israel, enumerating the details from recent discussions with Olmert.

The two Arab leaders agreed that it is necessary to continue negotiating, despite the political uncertainty within Israel.