The U.S. administration has not been successful in getting Arab countries to commit to take steps toward normalizing relations with Israel, a senior source in Jerusalem said Wednesday. U.S. President Barack Obama's recent meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia failed to produce any commitment to encourage the other Arab states to begin normalization, the source told the Hebrew-language newspaper Haaretz.

"In such a situation, the Americans can't continue demanding gestures only from Israel, such as the demand that Israel freeze settlement construction," the source said. A senior White House source said in response that talks with Arab states are continuing with the aim of obtaining a commitment to make gestures toward Israel, and there is still hope for progress.