Obama tells Abbas risks for peace are needed
WASHINGTON (AFP) -- US President Barack Obama on Monday told President Mahmoud Abbas that both he and Israeli leaders must make tough political decisions and take "risks" for peace.
Meeting Obama at the White House, Abbas said a scheduled Israeli release of a fourth tranche of Palestinian prisoners by March 29 would show how serious Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was about extending peace talks.
"As I said to Prime Minister Netanyahu when he was here just a few weeks ago, I believe that now is the time ... to embrace this opportunity," Obama said as he met Abbas in the Oval Office.
snip* "Rather than condemning these actions, President Obama has remained silent, sending the message that Palestinian life is cheap and that Israeli violations of international law and American policy will never be challenged."
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