Jerusalem - Ma'an - Jordan's King Abdullah II warned a delegation of US Congress members at Al Husseiniya Palace on Wednesday of the seriousness of developments in the West Bank. The King warned that the attacks by extremist settlers against the Palestinians, and the violations of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, will lead to the escalation of violence. The meeting, which was attended by Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, discussed efforts to reach a comprehensive calm in the region, and ways to enhance the strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States. The King stressed that reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is the immediate step that must be taken to stop the cycle of violence in the region, stressing that the region cannot remain hostage to policies of extremism and escalation. The King also stressed the need for the United States to play a more effective role in pushing to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, and to find a poli tical horizon to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution. Source: Maan News Agency