US President Barack Obama on Thursday urged Israel to freeze Jewish settlement expansion, reiterating Washington's support for establishing a Palestinian state.

After meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the White House, Obama told reporters that Israel "must meet obligations" to halt Jewish settlements activities in the West Bank, and that Israel would recognize the two-state solution in its security interests.

Obama's hard message to Israel came a day after the Netanyahu-led government dismissed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's call to freeze all Jewish settlement activities in the West Bank.

President Obama also urged the Palestinian side to stop anti-Israel violence and incitement, which the Palestinians have committed to do under a 2003 Road map peace initiative. "I'm a strong believer in a two-state solution," said the president, adding that he was confident that the peace process could be moved forward if all the parties will meet the obligations that they've committed to do.

Obama said that he would not set an artificial' timetable for the establishment of a Palestinian state. President Abbas has said he will not resume peace talks with the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu until it stops settlement activities and accept the two-state solution.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2009)