Amman, January 24 (RHC)-- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has met with Jordan's King Abdullah II to discuss “ramifications” if the U.S. moves its Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. 

Following the meeting, which was held in Jordan's capital Amman, Abbas said that “a series of steps to take if the U.S. moves the embassy to Jerusalem” had been agreed upon.  Abbas stressed that relocating the embassy "is an important matter for the king and an important matter for us.  There will be no alternative to coordinating and articulating action points with one another to fight any steps that, if acted upon, would have severe ramifications.” 

He added that further coordination with Jordan was necessary ahead of Abdullah's upcoming visit the U.S. and Russia over the next few weeks.  "I hope the American administration will act on two levels.  One, to not discuss moving the embassy to Jerusalem and second, for the administration to lead negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis with the aim of achieving a political settlement," said Abbas, adding that "this is the best contribution the United States could make." 

Earlier, the White House said that the U.S. government was "at the very beginning stages of even discussing" the embassy relocation.  During his campaign, U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly said that if elected, he would not hesitate to relocate the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which is regarded by Palestinians as their future capital. The controversial decision has evoked Palestinians' bitter opposition.