The United States will be looking to engage all sides in a bid to revive the Middle East peace process, as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meets with US President Barack Obama Thursday at the White House, dpa reported. Coming after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Obama earlier this month in Washington, the visit by Abbas is part of a wider effort to build support across the region, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said. "We are making a very concerted effort. We have a well thought-out approach that we are pursuing" to kick-start the stalled negotiations, Clinton said after a meeting Wednesday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit. The administration has spent Obama's first four months in office developing its own proposals for how to resolve the stalemate between the Israelis and Palestinians. "But, ultimately, this is up to the two parties. Israel and the Palestinians have to decide that they will take a commitment toward a resolution of their outstanding concerns," said Clinton, who also held talks Wednesday evening with Abbas. "The international community, led by the United States, will be very supportive of that."
