Obama, Abbas discuss Middle East
US, Palestinian presidents discuss regional affairs, Israeli-Palestinian peace process for first time since September
WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the first time in six months on Monday to discuss the long-stalled Middle East peace process, the White House said.
White House Spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement that Obama called Abbas and told him the United States was committed to Middle East peace.
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He told Abbas both sides need to reinforce the efforts that have brought an end to recent fighting and to avoid provocative actions.
In the first conversation between Obama and Abbas since they met in New York in September 2011, Carney said Obama praised recent efforts by Jordan's King Abdullah to advance direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Talks between the Israelis and Palestinians have been overshadowed by the debate between Israel and Washington over a possible military strike on Iran due to Tehran's nuclear program.
Obam and Abbas (Photo: EPA)
The Palestinians have struggled to make their voice heard in recent months as world attention has shifted to the US presidential elections, the escalating violence in Syria and Iran's nuclear program.
Abbas, as a condition for negotiations, has demanded that Israel agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to accept that request and has balked at the Palestinians' demands to freeze Israeli settlement activities on lands the Palestinians want for a future state.
Abbas reportedly briefed Obama on the content of an official communiqué drafted by the Palestinian leadership and meant for Netanyahu, stressing that the PA is ready to resume the Israeli-Palestinian peace process immediately if Jerusalem will meet the Quarter's recommendations on the matter, most notably haling the settlement expansion.
Abbas further briefed Obama on the progress made in the negotiations between the Palestinian factions, ahead of their forming a unity government.
Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Benny Gantz is on an official, two-day visit in Washington. Gantz met Monday with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, for a discussion which reportedly focused mainly on Syria and Iran.
Dempsey noted afterwards that his dialogue with Gantz was "constant and critical," as Israel and the United States face "similar challenges."
Gantz, who will continue to Canada next, also met with US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice. The two reportedly discussed various regional issues, including Gaza rocket fire on Israel and IAF operations over the Strip.
The IDF chief also met with various other top officials in the Congress.
Elior Levy and Reuters contributed to this report
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