Israel's prime minister is set to approve plans to build hundreds of new homes on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, before considering US demands for a construction freeze.
- Aides to Binyamin Netanyahu said on Friday that the prime minister would consider a settlement freeze, but first planned to authorise the new building work.
- The comments, quoted in Israeli media, are the first time an aide has said in the name of the prime minister's office that a freeze could be imminent.
- The US said it regretted plans to approve additional settlement construction, saying continued settlement activity was inconsistent with Israel's commitment under the roadmap.
- "As the President [Obama] has said before, the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement expansion and we urge that it stop," a statement from the White House press office said.
- "We are working to create a climate in which negotiations can take place, and such actions make it harder to create such a climate."
- Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, criticised the Israeli move, saying "the only thing suspended by this announcement will be the peace process".
- The plans for new settlements are also likely to anger Palestinians, who have said they will not resume peace talks unless Israel suspends construction on lands they want for a future state.
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