Obama meets Abbas, presses Israel on settlements

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday pressed Israel to freeze settlement expansion as he sought to reassure visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Washington's support for Palestinian statehood.

Obama said Israel had the obligation of "stopping settlements." He also said that Palestinians must rein in anti-Israel violence and incitement.

(Reporting by Caren Bohan; Editing by Jackie Frank)