Israel's reported intention to freeze temporarily construction in West Bank settlements was only a "strategic pause," dpa quoted a senior Israeli minister as saying. Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Eli Yishai, of the ultra- Orthodox Shas party, added that Israel would still build settlements in East Jerusalem. He was commenting on reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a temporary freeze in all construction in West Bank settlements, but only after approving the building of hundreds of apartments in the West Bank. President Barack Obama has demanded that Israel freeze all construction in West Bank settlements. Netanyahu replied that while Israel would not build any new settlements, it would continue with construction in existing ones, to accommodate population expansion, so called "natural growth." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has conditioned a restart of suspended peace talks on a total Israeli settlement construction halt. -- SPA
