However, the right-wing Israeli prime minister said his government was 'certainly not obligated to the positions of the previous government'.

President Obama earlier urged both sides to do more to make peace talks possible.

The issue of Jewish outposts has become the main obstacle to reviving peace talks with the Palestinians, and a sticking point in relations with the US, Israel's main strategic ally.

Under the internationally agreed roadmap for Middle East peace, Israel is obliged to freeze all settlement construction activity, and remove unauthorised outposts built since 2001.