Biden and Jordan's King Abdullah II meet at White House

Two leaders discuss reducing Israel-West Bank tension

US President Joe Biden and Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House in Washington, on May 13, 2022. Jordanian Royal Palace / AFP

US President Joe Biden meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House. Jordanian Royal Palace / AFP

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin welcomes King Abdullah II of Jordan to the Pentagon during an honour cordon in Arlington, Virginia. Getty Images / AFP

Mr Austin welcomes King Abdullah and Crown Prince Hussein to the Pentagon. Getty Images / AFP

King Abdullah is in Washington to meet top US officials, including President Joe Biden. Getty Images / AFP

King Abdullah speaks during a meeting with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon in Washington. AP

King Abdullah and Crown Prince Hussein attend a meeting at the Pentagon. AP

Prince Hussein arrives at the Pentagon. AP

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin greets King Abdullah II of Jordan. AP

King Abdullah chats with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during a meeting at the Capitol in Washington. Getty Images / AFP

King Abdullah speaks at a press conference alongside Ms Pelosi at the US Capitol. Getty Images / AFP

Ms Pelosi speaks at a press conference alongside King Abdullah at the US Capitol. Bloomberg

King Abdullah meets senators John Thune, Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer at the US Capitol. Getty Images / AFP

King Abdullah meets members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the Capitol. Getty Images / AFP

King Abdullah meets Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez. Getty Images / AFP

While in the US, King Abdullah and Queen Rania received the Path to Peace Award in New York. AFP / Jordanian Royal Palace

The Path to Peace Award, affiliated with the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN, was granted in appreciation of the royal couple's role in promoting interfaith harmony and dialogue, peace and humanitarian efforts. AFP / Jordanian Royal Palace

US President Joe Biden and Jordan's King Abdullah II met at the White House on Friday to discuss “urgent mechanisms” to stop a spate of violence that has taken place in Israel and the West Bank over the past two months.

“The leaders consulted on recent events in the region and discussed urgent mechanisms to stem violence, calm rhetoric and reduce tension in Israel and the West Bank,” the White House said in a statement.

Tension in the region is high, with a wave of attacks in Israel that have killed at least 18 people since March 22. A total of 31 Palestinians and three Israeli Arabs were killed during the same period, an AFP tally showed.

Mr Biden “affirmed his strong support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and cited the need to preserve the historic status quo at the Haram Al Sharif”.

This is King Abdullah's second visit to Washington since Mr Biden took office.

King Abdullah has been in the US capital most of this week and earlier on Friday met Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon.

“Jordan is a valued leader in a difficult neighbourhood and a powerful partner for stability and security in the region,” Mr Austin said at the meeting.

“Our partnership with Jordan is more important than ever … because of our long-standing friendship, as well as the threats that we face today, including Iran's support for terrorism, the rise of drug smuggling in the Levant and the continued threat of violent extremist organisations.”