Amman - e conferred Thursday at the Red Sea
resort of Aqaba with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and urged
Israel to refrain from taking any "escalating steps" in the Gaza Strip,
according to a royal court statement.

"Any escalating steps on the part of Israel will aggravate tension" in
the territory, King Abdullah said, alluding to reported threats by
Israeli leaders to launch a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip
following rocket attacks on Israeli towns earlier this week.

"Israel will not obtain security through military measures, because
Israel's security lies in ending occupation and accepting the
Palestinian right to statehood," the monarch was quoted as saying.

The two leaders also urged the Israeli authorities to take "immediate
measures to stop sufferings of the Palestinian people" as a result of
the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and to re-open the crossing points
with the territory to allow entry of supplies.

Abbas briefed King Abdullah on the outcome of the talks the Palestinian
leader had earlier this week with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

"The two leaders stressed the need for continuing the negotiations
between Israel and the Palestinians regardless of the latest political
developments in Israel," the royal court statement said.(dpa)