Israeli PM 'to back settlements'

The US claims Israeli settlement is a major obstacle to peace talks

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will stick to plans to approve hundreds of new homes in the West Bank, despite strong US opposition, an ally says.

Transport Minister Yisrael Katz told public radio Mr Netanyahu would announce the plans in the coming days.

Israeli media reports suggest that up to 700 apartments could be built in Jewish settlements.

The US has urged Israel to halt its West Bank construction agenda, to revive Middle East peace talks.

According to Israeli media, after approving the new settlement construction, Mr Netanyahu would then agree to a temporary and conditional settlement halt.

"We are not speaking about a freeze," but rather an "easing" of construction, Mr Katz told public radio.

At the beginning of Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting, National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau, from the Yisrael Beiteinu party, said: "I don't see any reason to stop construction… we should simply go on with that," reports Associated Press TV news.

WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS Construction of settlements began in 1967, shortly after the Middle East War Some 280,000 Israelis now live in the 121 officially-recognised settlements in the West Bank A further 190,000 Israelis live in settlements in Palestinian East Jerusalem The largest West Bank settlement is Maale Adumim, where more than 30,000 people were living in 2005 There are a further 102 unauthorised outposts in the West Bank which are not officially recognised by Israel The population of West Bank settlements has been growing at a rate of 5-6% since 2001 Source: Peace Now Challenge of Israeli settlements

However, Labour party cabinet minister Avishay Braverman said "there will be a freezing, I am clear, of any new settlements".

It is expected that any moratorium on construction would exclude some 2,500 homes already being built in the West Bank, as well as any developments in annexed East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians hope to make the capital of a future state.

On Friday, White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said the US regretted the plans to expand settlements.

Israel says it wants to continue building to allow for what it calls the "natural growth" of communities.

A Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, said on Sunday that Israel's continued plans to press ahead with its settlement programme proved that US President Barack Obama had failed in his mediation attempts.

The Palestinians have made the resumption of peace talks conditional on a halt to all settlement activity by Israel.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat has said the new construction plans undermined efforts to revive the peace process.

The issue is expected to be discussed when Benjamin Netanyahu's aides meet US special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, next week.

Close to 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem. The settlements are illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

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