His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday said lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis will only be achieved through a peacefully negotiated final settlement based on international law.

“Lasting peace will only come with a peacefully negotiated final settlement, based on international legality — two states: A viable, sovereign Palestine, alongside a secure Israel,” the King said at the opening of the second Conference of Nobel Laureates in Petra.

“But nothing will prevent progress more surely, than standing by while a humanitarian disaster overwhelms the Palestinian people.”

Full text of His Majesty's remarks

The two-day “Petra II: A World in Danger” conference is the second forum organized jointly by the King Abdullah II Fund for Development and New York-based Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity.

Nobel laureates and celebrities were to meet in workshops to discuss solutions to global challenges such as nuclear non-proliferation, education, health, poverty and economic empowerment.