Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday called on Israel to abide by relevant international resolutions, stressing that Israel's settlement policy "is certainly illegal."

Abbas made the remarks during a meeting with five U.S. lawmakers in the West Bank city of Ramallah, according to official WAFA news agency.

During the meeting, Abbas underlined his commitment to a two-state solution and the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

Nabil Abu Rdineh, spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, said that the meeting also tackled the impasse in the peace process with Israel and the latest developments in the region in general.

U.S.-sponsored peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel stopped in March last year due to deep differences on the issues of settlements, security and borders. The talks lasted nine months with no progress achieved.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to form a new government after his Likud Party won the parliamentary elections held in Israel in March this year. Endit

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