A U.S. congressman with close ties to President Barack Obama told The Jerusalem Post Thursday that Israel should agree to a freeze in West Bank settlement building, calling it a "tiny" gesture.

"A request for a moratorium or freeze in settlement activity that can be mutually agreed upon by the U.S. and Israel in the next several weeks is a tiny, tiny gesture and down payment to make when you look at potentially what is on the other side of the equation," said Robert Wexler, a Democrat from Florida.

Wexler said Arab countries are being asked for significantly greater gestures, such as opening up diplomatic missions in the Jewish state.

If Arab states don't act, Wexler said, better to "call their bluff" at the beginning of the process, when little time has been wasted.

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