Abbas: Israel's settlement building will be focus of Obama meet

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday he would focus on Israel's refusal to stop the building of settlements when he holds talks with U.S. President Barack Obama later this week.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his government would not establish new settlements in the West Bank, though he did say that expansion in existing settlements would continue in order to accomodate "natural growth."

"We are aware of Mr. Netanyahu's positions and I'm not going to engage on this subject through the media. This is one of the main issues I'll take with me to Washington," Abbas told reporters in Ottawa.

Abbas, who is due to meet Obama on Thursday, has ruled out restarting long-stalled peace talks until Israel commits itself to the creation of a Palestinian state and halts expansion of its settlements.

"I really believe that we have a good opportunity to advance and make a comprehensive peace in the region. We don't need to reinvent the wheel," he said after meeting Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon.

Abbas, speaking through an interpreter, said that regardless of what plan was used as a basis for such a deal, "the common denominator is to end the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 (and) to establish a Palestinian state that would live side by side in peace and security with the state of Israel".