Obama, Abbas tout two-state solution

WASHINGTON, May 28 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama expressed optimism Thursday that Israel would realize a two-state solution with Palestine is in its best interests in the long term.

Speaking to reporters with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after their meeting, Obama said he would "assume the best" about Israel's position on the two-state solution, especially since his discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu "only took place last week."

Obama reiterated U.S. support for Israel and said the best way to assure Israeli security is to "set the stage for a Palestinian state," a process he said should include Israel stopping settlements and Palestinians following through with security steps in the West Bank.

"And I also mentioned to President Abbas in a frank exchange that it was very important to continue to make progress in reducing the incitement and anti-Israel sentiments that are sometimes expressed in schools and mosques and in the public square, because all those things are impediments to peace," he said.

Obama praised Abbas for his work toward a unity government, saying he was impressed with the Palestinian leader's insistence that the government follow principles proffered by the Middle East Quartet -- the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations -- involved in mediating the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Obama declined to specify a time frame for a Palestinian state, saying he didn't want to set an "artificial timetable."

Abbas said that, during the meeting, he and Obama discussed the necessity of a two-state solution and of stopping Israeli settlement activity in Gaza and the West Bank. The two also talked about resuming negotiations, he said.

Obama said he plans to discuss his proposal for the Middle East peace process during his speech in Cairo next week. He said he also would deliver a broader message about improving understanding between Americans and Muslims worldwide.