WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The United States must return to the role of "honest broker" in trying to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict amid signs that the peace process could be revived, said the head of the Arab League on Thursday.

Speaking after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said the time was right for the United States to play a more active role.

"The United States, at a certain stage, lost that capacity but still an honest broker role is open for the United States," Moussa said in a speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think-tank.

He said the region was "abuzz" with questions over the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and what role the United States could play, an issue he discussed with Rice.

Several Arab nations are suspicious of Washington's role, particularly after the United States gave Israel the green light to continue bombing Lebanon during its war against Hezbollah last July by refusing to demand a cease-fire.

Rice, who returned from Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories last week but failed to come away with any tangible results, is expected to visit the region again early next year as part of the administration's efforts to revive peace talks.

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