JERUSALEM—Palestinian officials expressed frustration over what they see as a lack of direction in peace talks with Israel, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Washington for his first meeting in a year with President Barack Obama.

Husam Zomlot, a senior aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said the U.S. should urge the Israeli government to cease settlement activity in the Palestinian territories and return to the negotiating table for multilateral peace talks.

“Netanyahu...