While Israel may be snubbing Washington's demands to freeze its settlements expansion, the country's appetite for the latest US arms remains as strong as ever.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak will hold talks with US officials in the US on Monday in a move which Tel Aviv says is aimed at healing a rift between Washington and the Israeli government.

Barak's talks in Washington is originally planned to focus on military ties, but Israeli and US media say that Barak is expected to devote a lot of time to ease tensions between the two sides.

During the three-day trip, the Israeli minister is expected to meet Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, National Security Adviser James Jones and President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell.

Barack is expected to voice Israeli's request to buy up to 75 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) in a deal worth up to $15.2 billion, plus other advanced weapon systems, AFP quoted a senior official as saying.

Depending on the variants, F35 fighters could take off conventionally (F35A), or operate as a Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft (F35B).

Israel - the largest recipient of US military aid - has been reported to be interested over 100 of the aircraft in a mix of configurations.

Earlier this week, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev declared that the regime will continue its settlement expansion because "normal life" in Israeli should be allowed to continue.

The Israeli government refuses to adopt a positive stance to international calls to stop settlement activities which is among key issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

MGH/ZAP/DT