Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Saturday that while Jordan's King Abdullah would like to see a stronger U.S. role in resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict, greater American intervention is being thwarted by internal divisions within the Palestinians.

"The Americans are ready to be more involved, but they encounter factions within the Palestinian camp itself, and also disagreements between Sunni and Shiites, who influence the Palestinians as well."

Speaking on state television in Amman on Friday ahead of a visit to the U.S., Abdullah said the United States was the country most capable of influencing Israel.

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"It is time that the [U.S.] employ this influence to prove its transparency to the people of the region, and that it is not biased," Abdullah said.

The king, who has long urged America to make a greater effort on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, is likely to make the same point when he addresses the U.S. Congress on Wednesday.

He called on Israelis to choose between a "fortress" mentality or living in peace and security with their neighbors.

"The Middle East faces two choices - either the choice of peace or the choice of chaos, violence and destruction," the king told Jordanian television, to which he rarely gives interviews.

He said that a solution to the Palestinian problem would spare the region disaster and chaos. Referring to the United States, he said: "It is our duty to push this great state, and others, to take balanced positions and support the peace process."

Abdullah said that he realized that Washington was preoccupied with Iraq, and said Jordan too wanted to see reconciliation and stability in Iraq.

But, the king added, "the principal problem in the region is the Palestinian issue and, if it is not solved, it will be impossible to solve the other problems."

On Jordanian affairs, Abdullah sought to assure Jordanians that the legislative and municipal elections due later this year would be held on time.

There have been reports that the polls would be delayed.

In Washington, the king is expected to hold talks with President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.