The vice president reassured the Egyptian president and Jordan's king in visits to the two countries that the U.S, would support a two-state solution for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
An unbalanced attempt to resuscitate the two-state solution could harden the most intransigent elements on both sides, writes an American Jewish Committee official.
French President Francois Hollande reportedly plans to hold a meeting of foreign ministers in Paris on Dec. 21 as part of a bid to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.