Israeli President Reuven Rivlin recounted how he told US President Barack Obama that a "two-state solution" to the Israeli-Arab conflict is "irrelevant."

Rivlin was speaking during a tour of the Binyamin Region of Samaria, as a guest of Yesha Council leader Avi Roeh. The Yesha Council represents the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria.

Addressing a group of some 80 local community leaders at Psagot winery just north of Jerusalem, Rivlin described his last meeting with Obama at the White House.

"I told President Obama that the two-state solution is not relevant - that is my personal opinion," Rivlin said.

Rivlin - a longtime supporter of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria - highlighted the ancient Jewish connection to those lands, and brushed off attempts by UNESCO to deny the existence of Jewish heritage sites in Israel.

"Regarding Shiloh, we don't need UNESCO to prove historical facts," Rivlin said, referring to the neighboring Jewish town, which served as the first Israelite capital and today is home to some 350 Jewish families.

"You settled here in cooperation with the government of Israel, and for that I bless you," he added.