The United States today denied an Israeli newspaper report that said it had agreed to a formula for Israel to partially freeze building in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The
Ha'aretz
newspaper said Washington had agreed Israel would not expand Jewish settlements beyond their current boundaries but could continue building in areas inside settlements where homes have already been built.
Ha'aretzsaid the proposals it outlined were intended to meet the needs of settlers. They appeared intended to find a formula for continuing construction at settlements without them spreading over more occupied land in Palestinian areas.
A US embassy spokesman said there had been no such deal between the Israel and the United States, which is showing signs of taking a bigger role in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon has said he will not build new settlements or confiscate more Palestinian land for existing settlements. But he has said he will continue construction in settlements that have already been built.
A fact-finding committee led by former US senator Mr George Mitchell into eight months of Israeli-Palestinian violence calls for a freeze on building at settlements as a confidence-building measure.
The recommendations have been adopted by the international community as a blueprint to ending the violence and renewing peace negotiations.