AFP - US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Jordan on Thursday for talks with key regional ally King Abdullah II on a Middle East peace process marred by Israel's announcement of more settlement plans for east Jerusalem.

"He will inform the king about his talks in Israel and the Palestinian territories," said a senior official, who added that Biden headed immediately from the airport to the meeting.

"The king will express to Biden his frustration over Israel's new settlements plans, which undermine peace efforts."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly apologised to the vice president on Thursday in a bid to defuse the row over settlements, which prompted a Palestinian boycott of indirect peace talks.

Biden welcomed that but again criticised Israel's decision to approve construction of 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in east Jerusalem, which was announced during his visit this week.

The vice president and his wife Jill will dine with the king and Queen Rania later on Thursday.

On Friday, the couple will visit the Nabatean city of Petra in southern Jordan before heading back to the United States.