US President Barack Obama will meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday after all.

Afterward, the US president will meet both leaders separately to discuss possibilities to revive the stalled Middle East peace talks. At first, the Palestinians rejected a meeting with the Israeli prime minister, but probably changed their minds as the result of US pressure. Tuesday's talks will be held in the margin of the United Nations General Assembly.

Last week, Special US Envoy George Mitchell tried to persuade Prime Minister Netanyahu to halt the construction of new settlements in the West Bank. A moratorium on the construction of new settlements is a Palestinian precondition for participation in a new round of peace talks. However, Mr Mitchell's efforts proved futile.