Pressing for elusive Mideast peace, President Barack Obama on Tuesday challenged Israeli and Palestinians leaders to do more. It was the president’s most direct engagement yet on a problem that has vexed leaders for years.

In a moment deep in symbolism but offering little expectation of any immediate breakthrough, Obama brought together Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for their first three-way meeting. Obama’s words as the meeting got under way showed frustration with the looming gap between the two sides as the U.S. again tries to foster a deal.

“Simply put, it is past time to talk about starting negotiations,” Obama said. “It is time to move forward.”

Obama got specific with his expectations for both sides and outlined a timeline of steps for the coming weeks, eager to show momentum. Neither Netanyahu nor Abbas spoke during a brief appearance before reporters as the meeting got under way. But after Obama’s brief remarks, the president strode over to shake each of their hands. Then the two foes reluctantly shook hands as well, with dozens of cameras clicking to record the moment.

The three-way sit-down began about an hour late, after Obama had met individually with both men. President Obama is sternly urging Israeli and Palestinian leaders to do more to make Mideast peace talks possible.

Obama spoke at the start of a joint meeting in New York with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (neh-ten-YAH’-hoo) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD’ ah-BAHS’).

He launched the meeting by presiding over a handshake between the two leaders. Obama brought them together for the first Israeli-Palestinian meeting since Netanyahu took office in March. The three-way session came after Obama met individually with both men on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly session.

Obama said at the start of the trilateral talks that the sides have made some progress, but have much further to go. He told both leaders it’s time to find a way to break the deadlock. “There is a powerful sense of urgency,” he said.

Obama’s Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, is to return to the Middle East for another round of mediation next week, and Israeli and Palestinian envoys are to come to Washington. Obama said he expects a progress report in mid-October.

The leaders went into the meeting with entrenched positions, and it was not clear whether the deadlock can be broken.

Abbas has said he won’t renew negotiations without an Israeli settlement freeze, as sought by the U.S. and mandated by a U.S.-backed peace plan. Netanyahu insists there’s no way he will halt construction in Israeli enclaves on land the Palestinians want for their state.

An Abbas aide, Yasser Abed Raddo, said that in the trilateral meeting Abbas restated his demand for a complete Israeli settlement freeze. Netanyahu, in turn, demanded that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, Abed Raddo said. Abbas responded by saying that both sides should keep their commitments. The Palestinians argue that under previous understandings they are not required to do that.

Beyond the dispute over settlements, the two leaders are deadlocked on a more fundamental issue — the agenda of future peace talks.

The Palestinians want negotiations to resume on the same terms as last year’s round between Abbas and Netanyahu’s more pragmatic predecessor, Ehud Olmert. In those talks, which ended in late 2008, Israel agreed to discuss all so-called core issues, including the partition of Jerusalem. Netanyahu, a hardliner who came to power in March, insists Jerusalem is not up for discussion.