Obama says path to Mideast peace challenging

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says a Mideast peace solution remains elusive but he's hoping to see progress in coming days and weeks.

Obama spoke as he sat down Monday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the path forward.

The president says all sides understand what the outlines of a peace deal would look like, but achieving it still will be challenging.

Abbas responded that he considers this a historic opportunity and he thanked Obama for economic and political support.