His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday said improving the Palestinians' living conditions and rebuilding their economy after the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza should top the international community's priorities.

King Abdullah told Middle East Quartet Special Envoy for Gaza Disengagement James Wolfensohn at a meeting in Aqaba that helping the Palestinian Authority (PA) control the Strip was a must.

Wolfensohn, a former World Bank president, represents the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators — the UN, US, Russia and the EU — and has been holding extensive talks with Israel and the PA.

Last week, the King held talks in Jordan with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz on the pullout, scheduled to begin in about two weeks.

Wolfensohn recently visited the Palestinian territories and Israel, following up on a $3 billion financial aid package pledged to the PA by G-8 nations at their July summit.

The Jordan Times