国际英语新闻：Obama says Mideast talks exceed expectations, moratorium extension makes sense

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday that direct negotiations held in Washington last week between Israeli and Palestinian leaders "exceeded a lot of people's expectations," and that it makes sense to extend the Israeli settlement moratorium as long as the talks are moving "in a constructive way."

Obama told a press conference at the White House that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian National Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas "came with a sense of purpose and seriousness and cordiality that, frankly, exceeded a lot of people 's expectations."

U.S. President Barack Obama hosts a press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Sept. 10, 2010. Obama answered questions on a range of topics including U.S. economy and counter-terrorism wars.

He said Netanyahu came to Washington because he had seen during the course of 18 months that the U.S. government is unequivocal in its defense of Israel's security. "We've engaged in some uNPRecedented cooperation with Israel to make sure that they can deal with any external threats," said Obama.

As for Abbas, despite great misgivings and pressure from within, he agreed to come to Washington because he understood the "window for creating a Palestinian state is closing," Obama said.

"They affirmed the goal of creating two states living side by side in peace and security, they have set up a schedule where they are going to meet every two weeks," Obama noted. "We are actively participating in that process."

He said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be flying to the Middle East for the first series of next meetings scheduled for Sept. 14-15 in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt.

He warned that these are going to be "tough negotiations," as " there are enormous hurdles between now and our end point."