Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday said Israel must adopt the two-state solution and freeze Jewish settlement in the West Bank before resuming peace negotiations.

Abbas' remarks were made in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who urged the Palestinian leader to meet him to restart the negotiations.

Abbas urged Israel to carry out its obligations under the first phase of the US-backed Road Map peace plan which details a series of steps the two sides need to take to settle the conflict with a Palestinian statehood existing alongside the Jewish one.

He also expressed hope that the European and American efforts would "succeed in brokering Israel and the Palestinians to carry out their commitments and obligations."

The Palestinians say they have fulfilled most of their obligations, including restoring stability and order in the West Bank. However, the international community is waiting for Abbas to restore control over the Gaza Strip where Islamic Hamas movement held away.

The Palestinians blamed the continuation of the settlements as the key obstacle that prevented the negotiations from making progress.

Abbas and Netanyahu have never met since the latter took office in early April.

(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2009)