WASHINGTON, March 7, 2007 (WAFA) - King Abdullah of Jordan urged the United States on Wednesday to step up its Middle East peacemaking, calling the festering Israeli-Palestinian conflict a threat to global security and the world economy.

In a rare speech to a joint session of both houses of the US Congress, Abdullah said "the denial of justice and peace in Palestine" - not the US-led war in Iraq - was the critical issue facing the region.

King Abdullah said "we are all at risk" and urged the US to take the lead in delivering results "not next year, not in five years, but this year."

"Your responsibility today is paramount. Your potential to help Palestinians and Israelis find peace is unrivalled," he said.

"This is because the people of the region still regard the United States as the key to peace," he added. "We can wait no longer, and that is why I am here before you."

"As public confidence in the peace process has dropped, the cycle of crises is spinning faster and with greater potential for destruction," he said.

He recalled the hope generated by the 1994 Camp David peace accords between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

"Thirteen years later that work is still not completed and until it is, we are all at risk," he warned.

A.D (23.42P) (21.42GMT)