(ANSAmed) - ROME - ''We hope for a speedy resumption in direct talks between the Israelis and the Palestinian Authority because we see an urgent need to reach a fair, definitive and lasting peace agreement'', said President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano after his meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan, who shared his appeal. ''All sides are paying the price of prolonging the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians'', said Napolitano, speaking to journalists with King of Jordan, following a meeting at the Quirinale with Foreign Minister Franco Frattini. ''The Palestinians are paying a price in terms of the inhuman conditions in the Gaza Strip in particular''. The Israelis, on the other hand, are paying a price in a lack of development until peace is reached with the Palestinian people, but all the countries of the middle east are paying a price, as are all the countries of the Mediterranean, as the conflict is ''an obstacle which is preventing the full exploitation of these countries' economies and societies. ''We are hoping for signs of receptiveness and goodwill from Israel. We say this as a friend of the people of Israel''. Napolitano described the meeting with the Hashemite sovereign as ''in-depth and frank'', and focused in particular on bilateral relations, which are considered to be good, and open to further development, and on the Palestinian issue. The talks which are intended to breathe new life into a peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians under a formula of two States, said Napolitano, ''they were launched sixteen years ago with the Oslo Agreement, and they are still struggling''. Napolitano also expressed his wish for a ''possible agreement'' between Hamas and Al Fatah, given the need to conduct ''negotiations which look at the issues in depth''. He added that together with King Abdullah, we express appreciation for the new direction of the American administration ''as we are well aware of the difficulties which President Obama must face in carrying out his mandate''. The USA is an essential element in finding a solution to the Middle Eastern issue, but a commitment is needed from moderate Arab countries and from Europe, along with the USA's commitment. The European Union, he said, will give its complete backing to the international initiative and in particular for the Middle East, now that ''we finally find ourselves faced with the imminent coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty''. Finally, he expressed his appreciation to King Abdullah for ''the enlightened work that he has carried out for peace, in times of great tension, for example, his work to promote dialogue and understanding between the religions, and to protect the sacred sites of Jerusalem''. King Abdallah said that ''Israel must decide whether to integrate definitively in the region or remain outside, and it must put an end to the settlements''. The Hashemite ruler, who is the leader of a country which is a ''pillar of stability in the Middle East'', as Napolitano put it, spoke of the ''efforts which we are continuing to take forward on the Israeli-Palestinian issue'', and said that he was ''disappointed'' by the fact that talks ''are not going forward.'' But we cannot abandon the field, in fact we must work even more seriously to reach a two-state solution and a global peace at the regional level, because the alternative is a continuation of the conflicts''. Recalling the peace initiatives taken by the international community, the US administration and the European Union, King Abdullah explained that it is now up to Israel to decide, and he stressed the importance of Italy, a country which ''has always been a highly-respected and strong voice, and has made a fundamental contribution to the stability of our area''. (ANSAmed).