RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) – Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is to hold talks with US President George W. Bush at the White House on September 25, a day earlier than initially announced, Palestinian officials said on Monday.

“The meeting will be held on September 25,” Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP.

Before travelling to Washington, Abbas is to attend the opening session of the UN General Assembly.

Abbas and Bush will “evaluate the Israeli-Palestinian negotiation process and discuss the obstacles that prevent reaching an accord,” Erakat said.

Erakat accused Israel of failing to abide by its commitments in the peace talks, including its agreement to freeze settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.

Continued construction in the Israeli settlements is seen as one of the major hurdles in attempts to reach a peace agreement.

Peace efforts were relaunched with great fanfare at a US-hosted conference in November with the stated goal of reaching an agreement by the end of this year but have made little tangible progress.