JERUSALEM – President Barack Obama is telling Israelis that in the search for peace, they have “true partners” in Palestinian leaders Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, and Salam Fayyad, the prime minister.

Obama says the leaders have maintained security in the West Bank and that many Palestinians have rejected violence.

Obama was speaking to the people of Israel during his visit to the Mideast. His remarks came just hours after he met with Abbas and Fayyad.

Expectations are low that Obama would rekindle the peace process.