JERUSALEM — Israel's prime minister has dedicated a school named after his late father in a West Bank settlement, days before the U.S. secretary of state arrives on a new peace mission.

Speaking at a ceremony in the Barkan settlement, Netanyahu said Monday his father always stressed the "link to our land." He told the children that their presence was "deepening our roots."

Jewish settlements are the heart of the current impasse in Mideast peace efforts. The Palestinians say there can be no peace talks while Israel continues to build settlements on occupied territories. Netanyahu says the fate of the settlements should be resolved in negotiations and that talks should resume immediately.

Secretary of State John Kerry has been searching for a formula to restart talks, which broke down five years ago.