Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Zeev Boim's comments that Israel is in the final stages of granting "legal" status to some West Bank outposts has prompted a furious reaction from Palestinians.
Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat says the moves undermine the "road map" peace plan and has called on the United States to halt the Israeli measures.
The US-backed peace plan requires Israel to remove dozens of unauthorised West Bank outposts set up since March 2001, and to freeze construction at existing settlements.
Other outposts that are not being "legalised" will be dismantled, Mr Boim said, adding that dozens of unauthorised outposts have been removed in the past three years. Israeli human rights groups say very few of the outposts have been dismantled, and those that have were quickly re-established.
Jewish settlers have been establishing unauthorised hilltop outposts since 1998. Although the government calls some of the outposts "illegal," it has allowed settlers to pave roads to the hilltop areas, which are often made up of no more than a few trailers and a handful of settlers.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said last week he would take "unilateral steps" to ease tensions should both sides fail to reach agreement. Israeli media reported Mr Sharon was putting together a plan that would include dismantling some West Bank and Gaza Strip settlements.
Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip have reportedly killed three Palestinians after the soldiers disturbed a group of men apparently setting up an ambush on a road used by Jewish settlers.
PA