The murder of four Jewish civilians in the West Bank Tuesday was perpetrated by extremists who seek "destruction," President Barack Obama said Wednesday at the opening of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Washington, Associated Press reports.

"I want everybody to be very clear," the president added. "The United States is going to be unwavering in its support of Israel's security. And we are going to push back against these kinds of terrorist attacks. And so the message should go out to Hamas and everyone else who is taking credit for these heinous crimes that this is not going to stop us."

Prime Minister Netanyahu, looking grim, said the killings were carried out by people who "trample human rights into the dust and butcher everything they oppose."

Obama met separately with both Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas Wednesday morning. Later, the three leaders will join Jordan's King Abdullah and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak for dinner.