Quds, September 14, SPA -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday Israel would not freeze all building in West Bank settlements as demanded by Washington but could limit its scope to help to restart peace talks with the Palestinians, Reuters reported Israeli officials have said work would continue on 2,500 settler homes being built in the occupied territory, and Netanyahu reaffirmed the position in remarks to a legislative panel, before talks on Tuesday with a U.S. envoy. "They (Americans) asked us for a complete freeze and we told them that we will not do this," Netanyahu was quoted as saying by a parliamentary official, who briefed reporters on his comments to the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. "I told the Americans we would consider reducing the scope of construction," the Israeli leader said, according to the official. "But there has to be a balance between the desire to make progress in political negotiations and the need to allow inhabitants of Judea and Samaria to continue to lead normal lives," Netanyahu said, referring to the occupied West Bank. -- SPA
