Obama holds phone talks with Abbas, Netanyahu

US President Barack Obama spoke separately by phone on Thursday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed means to support efforts to achieve peace in the region. “The president underscored that while the parties have much work to do in the days and months ahead, the United States will support them fully in their efforts to achieve peace.”, the White House said in a statement issued yesterday. “The president reaffirmed that the United States stands ready to support the parties in achieving a just and lasting peace based on the two state solution, and will continue to work closely with the Palestinian Authority to achieve this goal,” the statement added.