Former prime minister Kevin Rudd is pressuring the Federal Opposition to make the formal recognition of Palestinian statehood official policy before the next election.

Key points: Kevin Rudd says Labor should abandon pledge to work solely towards two-state solution

Kevin Rudd says Labor should abandon pledge to work solely towards two-state solution Labor backbencher says recognising Palestinian state would disrupt potential for peace talks

Labor backbencher says recognising Palestinian state would disrupt potential for peace talks Bill Shorten expected to advocate for two-state solution in meeting with Israeli PM

The call comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touches down in Australia for a historic three-day visit, the first by an Israeli leader.

Mr Rudd defended the timing of his calls to recognise a Palestinian state in an interview with AM.

"I am a lifelong supporter of the state of Israel," he said.

"That does not make me, however, a lifelong supporter of the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu — the two are quite separate."

Mr Rudd expressed his personal preference for recognising Palestinian statehood last week in the lead-up to the trip, and has now said the Opposition should abandon its pledge to work solely towards a two-state solution.

"I believe it should change at the next conference of the Labor Party," he said.

Mr Rudd said moves to resume Israeli settlements of disputed West Bank territories was the catalyst for a change in his views on recognising Palestinian statehood.

"To be fair to Labor's leadership, these have been recent and unfolding events both within Israel and the United States," he said, referring to recent confusion about US President Donald Trump's position on the West Bank settlements.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is expected to outline Labor's current position, advocating for a two-state solution, when he meets with Mr Netanyahu during this week's visit.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 9 minutes 4 seconds 9 m Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Australia for historic visit ( Sophie McNeill )

A change to immediate recognition for a Palestinian state could be problematic for Mr Shorten, whose faction numbers several staunchly pro-Israel identities.

One is backbencher Michael Danby, who told PM yesterday the views of Mr Rudd and former prime minister Bob Hawke, who has also recently called for the recognition of a Palestinian state, were misguided.

"I think Kevin's just wrong," he said.

Mr Danby said recognition of a Palestinian state would disrupt the potential for peace talks, but Mr Rudd dismissed his concerns.

"Mr Danby is one voice within the nearly 100 members of the federal parliamentary party," Mr Rudd said.

"But I am also a member of the Labor Party and I also have a right to articulate my own view."