Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today he had told Washington in writing, just before heading for talks with President Barack Obama, that Israel would not stop settlement around Jerusalem.
The settlement issue, accompanied by mounting violence in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces have killed four Palestinians in two days, is challenging renewed efforts by US envoy George Mitchell to get peace talks under way.
"Our policy on Jerusalem is the same policy followed by all Israeli governments for the 42 years, and it has not changed. As far as we are concerned, building in Jerusalem is the same as building in Tel Aviv," Mr Netanyahu told his cabinet today.
"I believed it would be of great importance for these things not to remain in the context of commentary or speculation. I subsequently wrote a letter, at my own initiative, to the secretary of state so that things would be crystal clear."
Mr Netanyahu spoke by telephone to US secretary of state Hillary Clinton on Thursday in an attempt to defuse a vocal US-Israeli dispute over settlement in areas around East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967.
Israel's announcement - during a visit by US vice president Joe Biden two weeks ago - that it would build 1,600 homes for Jews near East Jerusalem embarrassed Washington and cast doubt over the start of indirect peace talks with the Palestinians.
Mr Netanyahu was flying to Washington today after meeting Mr Mitchell. He is to address the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC tomorrow, and an aide said he would meet Mr Obama on Tuesday.
Mrs Clinton last week gave the first sign of a softer US tone, saying Mr Netanyahu had made "useful and productive" comments.
While she gave no details, Israeli media said Mr Netanyahu had refused to shelve the housing project, but had agreed to confidence-building steps such as freeing Palestinian prisoners and easing a blockade of Gaza.
In the latest West Bank bloodshed, Israeli troops killed two Palestinians who tried to stab soldiers, the army said.
Palestinian officials cited witnesses alleging the men had been killed in cold blood after being arrested.
The Palestinians are sticking publicly to their refusal to restart talks until Israel freezes settlement building.
Nabil Abu Rdainah, an aide to President Mahmoud Abbas, said Israel was thwarting efforts to revive the peace process.
On Friday, the Quartet of United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia urged a halt to all settlement building.
Reuters