WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump's meeting Wednesday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (all times EDT):

1:15 p.m.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD' ah-BAHS') says in a meeting with President Donald Trump that he's hopeful for bringing about peace with Israel "based on the vision of two states," based on the borders of 1967.

Abbas is calling for a peace that is "just and comprehensive" and tells Trump that he believes "we are coming into a new opportunity, a new horizon" that could lead to peace with Israel.

The Palestinian leader says it is time for Israel to end its occupation of its land. He's crediting Trump for his wisdom and says he believes they can be "true partners ... to bring about a historic peace treaty."

Israel has rejected the 1967 lines as a possible border, saying it would impose security risks.

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12:50 p.m.

President Donald Trump says the White House is starting a process between the Israelis and Palestinians that "hopefully will lead to peace."

Trump — who met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD' ah-BAHS') at the White House on Wednesday — isn't giving details about how the process might work.

Trump says he's long heard that brokering peace between the two sides was "perhaps the toughest deal" to make.

He's taking that as a challenge, and says: "Let's see if we can prove them wrong, OK?"

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12:30 p.m.

President Donald Trump says he'll "do whatever is necessary" to reach a Mideast peace agreement and he believes "there's a very, very good chance" of bringing Israel and the Palestinians together.

Trump has met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD' ah-BAHS') in the Oval Office, and the president says he'd "love to be a mediator, an arbitrator or a facilitator" between the two sides.

He says "we want to create peace" and he believes "we will get it done." But he also says a deal "cannot be imposed by the United States or any other nation."

Abbas spoke through an interpreter and said: "We are coming into a new opportunity a new horizon that would enable us to bring about peace."

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12:10 p.m.

President Donald Trump is expressing optimism for resumed peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel.

He made the comment at the start of his Oval Office meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD' ah-BAHS').

Trump says that "hopefully something terrific can come out between the Palestinians and Israel" and that "we've been working on that one a long time."

Trump says "maybe we can end that journey and start a much better journey."

It's the first direct meeting between Trump and Abbas.