U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday that he believes Israel is serious about resuming direct talks with the Palestinian leadership.

Obama made the comment following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

"We're committed" to peace with the Palestinians, Netanyahu said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets U.S. President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press)

Tuesday's meeting was a turnaround from the chilly reception when Netanyahu was last in Washington in March. Then, the Israeli leader did not even get the customary photo opportunity with Obama, as the Americans were angered by an Israeli decision to expand a major settlement in East Jerusalem.

However, this time the meeting was in full view. Some Israeli commentators have suggested it has more to do with courting Jewish voters in the upcoming U.S. mid-term elections than with peace in the Middle East.

Obama downplayed perceptions of a rift in U.S.-Israel relations, saying his support has never wavered.

Israel's 10-month freeze on the building of new Jewish settlements in the West Bank is due to expire in September. The Palestinians want the extension to continue and be expanded to include East Jerusalem before they'll consider direct peace talks with Israel.

Some members of Netanyahu's cabinet — including Science and Technology Minister Daniel Hershkowitz, the head of a right-wing party — insist that building will resume.

"There's no room for any further freeze," said Hershkowitz. "The current freeze has not brought anything and not given a single progress by the Palestinians following the freeze."

The Gaza situation was also on the table at Obama and Netanyahu's meeting, and Obama said "real progress" was made on the issue. He also said the United States will never ask Israel to take measures that would undermine its security.

Israel on Monday confirmed plans to ease its Gaza embargo in the wake of the May 31 flotilla controversy, when an Israeli naval raid on a vessel trying to reach Gaza left nine activists dead.

Israel said most consumer goods will now be allowed into Gaza, although items Israel says might be used to make weapons will continue to be barred. In addition, exports from Gaza won't be allowed and the sea blockade will continue, as will restrictions on the movement of people in and out of the territory.

Netanyahu said he believed that after indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians it was time to move to direct talks.

"I think with the help of President Obama, President [Mahmoud] Abbas and myself should engage in direct talks to reach a political settlement of peace, coupled with security and prosperity," he said.

With files from The Associated Press