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.
