US should honor past deals: Israeli official

An Israeli Cabinet minister says American calls for a freeze on West Bank settlement construction go against past agreements between the two nations and could undermine US credibility.

An Israeli Cabinet minister says American calls for a freeze on West Bank settlement construction go against past agreements between the two nations and could undermine US credibility.

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Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor says there were a series of understandings with the Bush administration allowing limited settlement construction. He says President Barack Obama's administration should honor these understandings. Otherwise, he says, it could raise questions about the legitimacy of future agreements.

Obama wants Israel to halt all construction in its settlements to help get stalled peace negotiations back on track. US officials have said any informal understandings reached with the Bush White House are not binding.