CHICAGO, April 17, 2010 (WAFA)- King of Jordan Abdullah II said the Arab countries are committed to achieve peace with Israel when the latter withdraws from occupied Arab territories and a sovereign Palestinian state is established on the Palestinian soil, Petra news agency reported.

The King , in an interview with Chicago Tribune Editorial Board published on Friday, added the Arab Peace Initiative provides a basis to achieve peace in the Middle East, noting ' some Arab states say: the Arab peace proposal doesn't work, dialogue doesn't work with Israel, and we should take the Arab peace proposal off the table'.

'The Arab peace proposal is 22 Arab nations, plus the rest of the Muslim countries. That's 57 nations that have basically all agreed that they want to have full diplomatic relations with Israel. So, also in the proposal is collective security guarantees, but in return, a two-state solution and therefore a future for the Palestinians,' His Majesty underlined.

The King stressed the need to launch effective and serious negotiations to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, highlighting the centrality of the Palestinian issue.

The King added President Obama is committed to the two-state solution, which is in 'America's national interest. I believe Israel's future is to be integrated into the region. What we're hoping for is active engagement by the Palestinians with the Americans, the Israelis with the Americans.'

'But if the powers that look at Israel's future as Fortress Israel, that means bloodshed will continue for decades. America is not immune to the problems that we have in our part of the world,' His Majesty pointed out.

Asked on the likelihood of peace in the Middle East, the King said 'it would be a catastrophe if our children have to talk about this. Peace is the only option that we have, and it needs to be done today.'

He described a military strike against Iran as 'disastrous for all of us because it would ignite the region.'