US Vice President Dick Cheney says a Mideast peace agreement will require "painful concessions" by Israelis and Palestinians.

Dick Cheney made the remarks after meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the central West Bank Palestinian city Ramallah, during his 10-day trip to the Mideast.

"We look forward to the day that an independent, viable, democratic and peaceful Palestinian state comes into being…Achieving that vision will require tremendous effort at the negotiating table and painful concessions on both sides."

Abbas thanked Cheney for US support, but also lashed out at Israel's settlements and checkpoints.

"Peace and security can't be achieved through settlement expansion and erecting barriers, checkpoints around the villages and cities and the military escalation against Gaza."

Abbas also condemned rocket attacks from Gaza at Israel, saying that "we believe in a real peace that puts an end to this conflict that creates tension in the whole region."