Palestinian president welcomes Obama's visit to Middle East

Ramallah (

), Feb 13: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has welcomed a planned visit next month by US President

to the

,

reported.

"We welcome this important visit for Obama, and also the US efforts to break the ice in the peace process between the Palestinians and Israel," Abbas said after a meeting with US Consul General Michael Ratney in Jerusalem.

Ratney briefed Abbas on US ideas to resume the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which were stalled due to a dispute over Jewish settlement activities in the West Bank in 2010.

The ideas include measures to expand the Palestinian National Authority's (PNA) security control in the West Bank, release of prisoners by Israel and transfer of the PNA's tax revenues that Israel holds.

IANS