The US has reportedly given a 'green light' to Israel to continue some construction in West Bank settlements, in contrast to its public call for a freeze on its work.

According to the Israeli daily Ma'ariv, Washington has Okayed the construction of 2,500 settlement homes in the occupied territories.

The shocking report came after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak briefed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his talks with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell to end a rift with Washington over the expansion of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev had earlier said that Tel Aviv and Washington have been trying to find common ground on the "sensitive issue of settlements" without providing any details.

The US, supporting a two-state solution to end the long running Israeli-Palestinians conflict, has repeatedly called on Israel to put an end to all settlement activity in the occupied territories, which is considered as the main obstacle to peace.

Palestinians have repeatedly said that they will resume peace talks with Israel only after it freezes settlement activities in the West Bank.

The Israeli government has so far rejected world wide demands for settlement work to stop, saying it is pushing to retain what it calls "natural growth".

The settlements are built on the land Israel occupied in the 1967 Middle East war and are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which says the occupying power is not allowed to transfer citizens from its own territory to the occupied territory.

HE/SC/MMN