Obama reconciles Israelis, Palestinians

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Besides the climate change meeting, Obama was also engaged in peace talks.

In a moment deep in symbolism but offering little expectation of any immediate breakthrough, the U.S. President brought together Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in New York for a three-way meeting.

It was the US president's most direct engagement on a problem that has vexed leaders for years.

Pressing for Mideast peace, Barack Obama urged Israeli and Palestinians leaders to do more, saying it was time to "find a way forward."

Barack Obama, U.S. President, said, "We have to summon the will to break the deadlock that has trapped generations of Israelis and Palestinians in an endless cycle of conflict and suffering. We cannot continue the same pattern of taking tentative steps forward and then stepping back. Success depends on all sides acting with a sense of urgency."

The Palestinians, Obama says must build on progress on halting militant attacks.

As for Israelis, he praised their discussions about restraining settlement-building in Palestinian territories, but added Israel needs to turn these discussions into real action.

Obama outlined a timeline of steps for the coming weeks.

U.S. envoy George Mitchell and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet with the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators next week.