Palestinians can benefit from conference: Jordan king

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2007

AMMAN (AFP) — King Abdullah II of Jordan urged the Palestinians on Friday to close ranks and let "reason prevail" in order to benefit from an international Middle East peace conference later this year.

The peace conference called by US President George W. Bush could take place in November after the Jewish and Muslim high holidays, according to some Palestinian officials.

"Our Palestinian brothers should benefit from this opportunity to unify their efforts and stances," King Abdullah told Jordanian television.

"The separation of Gaza from the West Bank is unacceptable at both the Palestinian and Arab levels," he said.

The Islamist movement Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in mid-June from the moderate Fatah faction of Palestinian president...