WASHINGTON: US Vice-President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on Israel to work toward a two-state solution by stopping construction of Jewish settlements and allowing Palestinians freedom of movement.

Biden also asked Arab states to make meaningful gestures toward ending Israel’s isolation ahead of the first top US-Israel talks since President Barack Obama took office and Benjamin Netanyahu was elected Israel’s premier.

The talks between Obama and Israeli President Shimon Peres came after neither Peres nor Netanyahu explicitly called for the goal of a two-state solution, which the Obama administration embraces.

Joe Biden told the annual policy conference of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, which calls itself the most influential foreign policy lobby in Washington, that the United States stood behind Israel’s security.

The United States will continue to provide Israel the assistance it needs, ‘but Israel has to work toward a two-state solution,’ said Biden.

‘You’re not going to like my saying this but (do) not build more settlements, dismantle existing outposts and allow Palestinians freedom of movement,’ Biden told the audience.

Biden also called on the Arab states to support and fund Palestinian security and other institutions in the West Bank.

Kerry, a fellow Democrat who replaced Biden as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made more specific pleas to the Arab states when he spoke to the conference moments earlier.

He welcomed the Arab peace initiative of 2002 for calling for normalising ties with Israel in exchange for the Jewish state ending the occupation of Arab lands seized in 1967.

Netanyahu has so far refused to publicly endorse the creation of a Palestinian state.

Analysts point out that Peres holds views closer to those of Obama on Middle East peace than Netanyahu, but he holds the mostly ceremonial post of president.—AFP

Underlying tensions pit different elements in the power structure against eachother.