Tel Aviv - The US and Israel have reached a compromise on the issue of settlements, under which Washington will allow it to continue constructions that have already begun, an Israeli newspaper reported Wednesday. That means Israel will be allowed to complete some 700 buildings, amounting to some 2,500 apartments, Ma'ariv said, quoting a "senior Israeli political source."
No new constructions would be allowed to begin under the compromise, reportedly reached in Monday's meeting in London between Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and US President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell.
Barak, back in Jerusalem, on Tuesday briefed a forum of six senior Israeli ministers on the outcome of his talks with Mitchell.
A joint statement by the Israeli defence minister and Mitchell issued Monday in London only called their talks "constructive" and said they would continue "in the near future."
A spokeswoman for Barak said she would check the report in Ma'ariv.
Barak, of the centre-left Labour Party, also met with Mitchell in Washington last week. The Obama envoy is to meet with Netanyahu in Israel mid next week.
