Al Assad, Abdullah Condemn Continued Settlement Expansion

Syria and Jordan condemned "Israel's" latest decisions to continue illegal settlement expansion and destroying Palestinian homes in the occupied Palestinian lands.

In a joint statement on Thursday, Syrian president Bashar Al Assad and Jordanian King Abdullah the second said "Israel" was blocking peace efforts in the Middle East by such decisions, Syria's news agency SANA reported.

During Al Assad's visit to Jordan, the two presidents called on "Israel" to lift "the inhuman blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip."

Blaming "Israel" for not achieving any tangible peace progress with Palestinians, they assured that the region "will not witness security and stability without the accomplishment of comprehensive and just peace."

"Such peace should be founded on the relevant UN resolutions that ensure "Israel's" pullout from all occupied Arab territories and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state," the statement added.

This comes as Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed his approval for proceeding settlement construction in East Al Quds (Jerusalem) and the West Bank on Thursday.