Netanyahu: Settlement freeze not permanent

JERUSALEM, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- A freeze on Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank won't be permanent, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Monday.

Speaking before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Netanyahu said: "A reduction on building in Judea and Samaria will only be for a limited period. There is still no agreement with the Americans on the period of the freeze," The Jerusalem Post reported.

The Israeli leader's comments came a day after he met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, who reportedly urged him to halt the settlement construction as a way to restart the stalled Mideast peace talks.

"The Palestinians expected a complete settlement freeze, and now it's clear that this won't happen," the Post quoted Netanyahu telling the Knesset committee. "We're balancing both the desire to make a gesture, in order to re-launch the peace process, and the need to let Judea and Samaria residents live a normal life, and also to continue building public structures."

During his speech, Netanyahu also mentioned the removal of West Bank roadblocks and checkpoints and the expansion of activity around the Allenby Bridge, which links Jordan and the West Bank, Ynetnews.com reported.