WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Thursday ratcheted up what might be America’s toughest bargaining position with Israel in a generation, demanding anew that Israel stop expanding its settlements in the disputed West Bank as a key step toward making peace with its Arab neighbors.

Obama made the demand after a White House meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, building on unusually blunt language the day before from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“Each party has obligations,” Obama said of the so-called Road Map to Peace, to which Israel is a party. “On the Israeli side, those obligations include stopping settlements.”

He said he made that point to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when they met earlier this month, noting that the conversation “only took place last week” and that Netanyahu must work through domestic politics, but added: “We don’t have a moment to lose.”

Even before Obama sat down with Abbas, however, Israel’s government sent the message that it will continue construction in the settlements. “Normal life in those communities must be allowed to continue,” government spokesman Mark Regev said Thursday, adding that normal life included new construction.

Obama also urged the Palestinians to do their part by ensuring security in the West Bank and curbing anti-Israel rhetoric in schools.

However, his renewed push on Israel — coming hours after Netanyahu’s government signaled that it will keep building in the settlements — suggested an ambitious and perhaps high-risk strategy that could either fuel peace talks or leave Israel angry and the U.S. looking weak.