Mahmud Abbas has been a "true partner" of the United States, the White House said Thursday, after the Palestinian president announced he would not seek re-election in January.
"We have tremendous respect for president Abbas, he has been an important and historic leader for the Palestinian people and a true partner for the United States," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.
Palestinian officials said Abbas's decision was motivated by his disappointment in US efforts to halt Israeli settlement construction, which he had said must happen before the resumption of peace talks.
Abbas's frustration was said to have peaked when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised an Israeli proposal for some settlement limits as "unprecedented" after months of Washington demanding a full settlement freeze.
Clinton later clarified that President Barack Obama's administration still considers settlements "illegitimate" but also called on the two sides to resume negotiations even without the freeze demanded by the Palestinians.
Gibbs refused to be drawn on the implications of Abbas's decision on Obama's attempts to foster peace in the Middle East, but was fulsome in his praise of the Palestinian leader.
Abbas has worked to "better the lives of the Palestinians," he said.
