Pyongyang, August 13 (KCNA) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan at the talks with Chief of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas on August 7 strongly denounced Israel for its moves to expand Jewish settlements.

The continued Israeli settlement activities are illegal acts as they undermine international efforts to achieve the peace in the Mideast area, he said.

He reiterated the stand of his country supporting the Palestinian people in their struggle to retake the usurped right and build an independent state.