Palestinian president says Israel must end settlements in order to achieve a peace agreement

WASHINGTON - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling on Israel to end Jewish settlements in the West Bank and other areas that the Palestinians want to be part off their own state.

The Palestinian leader was speaking at the opening at the State Department of the first face-to-face peace negotiations with Israel in nearly two years.

Abbas said the negotiators face many hurdles, but he also said the goals are clear and the path to an enduring peace is known to both sides. He said that means it should be possible to achieve a final agreement within one year, as prescribed by the U.S.

Abbas spoke shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that an enduring peace was not possible without security assurances for Israel.