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Jordan's King Says Israel 'Playing with Fire' in Jerusalem

   VOA News 30 April 2010
   An  Ultra-orthodox Jewish boy climbs on timber beams at a construction
   site in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo, 26 Apr 2010

Photo: AP

   An  Ultra-orthodox Jewish boy climbs on timber beams at a construction
   site in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo, 26 Apr 2010

   Jordan's  King  Abdullah has accused Israel of, in his words, "playing
   with  fire"  for  its  policies  in  East Jerusalem and other occupied
   territories.
   Speaking  to  foreign  ambassadors Thursday, the king said for Mideast
   peace  negotiations to be successful, Israel must stop all "unilateral
   measures  in  occupied  territories"  - particularly the controversial
   expansion  of Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank and East
   Jerusalem.
   The  issue  of  settler  expansion  is  a  key stumbling block because
   Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
   Although  some city officials this week indicated an unofficial freeze
   on  construction  in  East Jerusalem, Israel's government has publicly
   insisted it will not halt expansion.
   Palestinian  President  Mahmoud  Abbas said Monday that he is ready to
   start indirect talks with Israel, possibly as early as next week.

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