Mideast nearing ‘explosion,’ Jordan’s Abdullah says

Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned Thursday that the situation in the Middle East could “explode” due to Israel’s building of settlements in East Jerusalem.

“I am afraid the tension could develop into an explosion with all parties paying the price,” the monarch said in a speech to the annual conference of Jordanian ambassadors.

His comments came ahead of a meeting this weekend of the Arab League in Cairo, which may herald the resumption of indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians.