Mideast peace not "easier" but "necessary": US.

Summary: President of the United States Barack Obama said Wednesday that Middle East peace efforts were not getting any "easier" with Israel building a government under hardliner Benjamin Netanyahu,

President of the United States Barack Obama said Wednesday that Middle East peace efforts were not getting any "easier" with Israel building a government under hardliner Benjamin Netanyahu, but said they were "just as necessary."

Obama also said that he expected "steady progress" in resolving disputes with Iran, which could take its "rightful place" in the world if it embraced peace.

"It is critical for us to advance a two-state solution where Israelis …