Jordan on Wednesday warned against Israeli measures “to alter facts on the ground” in the occupied Palestinian lands in a way that affects final status talks.

During a meeting with US Undersecretary for Middle East Affairs David Walsh, Foreign Minister Salah Bashir called on Israel to stop its settlement activities, stressing the need to ease the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people through softening the restrictions on their movement.

The two sides explored possibilities for helping the Palestinians and Israelis achieve profound progress in the peace process this year.

Bashir emphasised the need to benefit from the supportive environment that emerged from the Annapolis Mideast peace meeting in November last year.

He called on the US to maintain its efforts in helping the Palestinians and Israelis overcome their differences so as to ensure success in final status negotiations.

The US diplomat stressed his country’s commitment to helping parties to the conflict achieve progress and reach a settlement before the end of President George W. Bush’s term in office.

Jordan repeatedly asserted that it has interests to attend to in the recently launched final status negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, especially with regard to the fate of Jerusalem, refugees, water and borders.