U.S. agrees to partial settlement building

JERUSALEM, July 8 (UPI) -- The United States has given Israel the green light to undertake limited construction in the West Bank settlements, the Israeli defense minister said.

Maariv reported Wednesday Ehud Barak informed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other government ministers of the decision, on his return Tuesday from a meeting with the U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell in London.

The paper said Barak succeeded in persuading Mitchell to allow Israel to complete the construction of 2,500 partially built housing units.

Israel also received assurances from the United States demands for a total settlement freeze will be linked to the start of peace talks, the paper said.

Yedioth Aharonoth quoted government officials Wednesday as saying it appears the United States and Israel are close to working out an agreement on the settlement issue.