According to American rabbis on a White House conference call Tuesday, United States President Barack Obama indicated that he understood recent statements from the American-backed Palestinian Authority threatening to quit negotiations with Israel as political posturing.

Obama, who spoke with rabbis of various denominations in a call marking Rosh HaShanah, was asked by a participant about comments from PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas perceived in Israel as hostile to the negotiating process he launched with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu just last week in Washington.