Obama, Abbas discuss Israeli settlements

US President Barack Obama and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke for nearly an hour on the phone Thursday, on the eve of a Security Council meeting regarding Israeli settlements, a Palestinian official said.

According to Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina, the two discussed the developments in Egypt, Tunisia and the region, as well Israeli settlement activity. Abbas will convene the Palestinian leadership for a meeting on Friday afternoon, he said. (AFP)