On Thursday, King Abdullah of Jordan has stated his views on expanding Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem. He said that Israel is playing with fire, and condemned all trials of Israeli sides to displace Christian and Muslim Arabs from East Jerusalem; the area he said should be named the capital of an independent Palestinian state as soon as possible. These statements came after Israeli authorities gave permission to 20 new homes in east Jerusalem, which followed earlier announcement of 1600 (sixteen hundred) Israeli homes in another area in east Jerusalem. King Abdullah called for action in Washington regarding the new settlements, and said that the continuation of such actions from Israeli side will risk relations between Jordan and Israel; such a step would probably be welcomed by many Jordanian citizens who have always felt for their brothers suffering in Palestine.