OTTAWA (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday he would focus on Israel’s refusal to stop the building of settlements when he holds talks with US President Barack Obama later this week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuffed US calls on Sunday for a full settlement freeze in the occupied West Bank and said he would not accept limits on building of Jewish enclaves within Jerusalem.

“We are aware of Mr Netanyahu’s positions and I’m not going to engage on this subject through the media. This is one of the main issues I’ll take with me to Washington,” Abbas told reporters in Ottawa.

Abbas, who is due to meet Obama on Thursday, has ruled out restarting long-stalled peace talks until Israel commits itself to the creation of a Palestinian state and halts expansion of its settlements.

“I really believe that we have a good opportunity to advance and make a comprehensive peace in the region. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” he said after meeting Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon.