With the U.S. war in Iraq drawing to a close, the Middle East moved front and center for administration officials Wednesday as President Barack Obama held a series of high-stakes meetings with Israeli and Arab leaders.

Obama was scheduled to meet behind closed doors at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Obama and Netanyahu met first, briefly addressing reporters to condemn, in Obama's words, the "senseless slaughter" of two men and two women Tuesday near the West Bank city of Hebron.

"Terrorists ... are purposely trying to undermine these talks," Obama said. "The message should go out (that this attack) is not going to stop" the United States from backing Israel and the peace process.

Obama is slated to deliver a statement to the media in the Rose Garden at 5:20 p.m. ET, followed by statements with the Middle East leaders in the East Room at 7 p.m.

On Wednesday night, Obama will host a dinner for the other leaders, along with Middle East Quartet Representative Tony Blair. The Quartet consists of the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union.

At stake is a unique "window of opportunity" for a breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the next year, according to former Sen. George Mitchell, Obama's special envoy for Middle East peace. Talks have been stalled for a year and a half.

The hurdles, however, remain steep. One immediate threat is the looming September 26 expiration of Israel's 10-month freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank.

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