His Majesty King Abdullah warned on Tuesday that violence and extremism will escalate in the region unless Mideast peacemaking is quickly revived under US sponsorship.

The King told US Deputy Secretary of State David Welsh at a meeting in Amman that a failure to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process will increase the cycle of violence and extremism wracking the region and weaken moderate forces.

King Abdullah reiterated the priority and centrality of the Palestinian issue.

Its resolution, the King added, would provide the basis for stability in the entire Middle East and enable an independent Palestinian state living in security side-by-side with Israel.

King Abdullah, who also met with a group of US diplomats, warned that if there is no acceleration in solving the crisis, the region will further descend into chaos and violence.

The Jordan Times