WASHINGTON: The White House said Friday it regretted Israel's reported plans to build new settlements, calling it "inconsistent" with its international commitments to the peace process.

"We regret the reports of Israel's plans to approve additional settlement construction," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

"Continued settlement activity is inconsistent with Israel's commitment under the Roadmap," he said, referring to the blueprint for a permanent two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"As the president has said before, the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement expansion and we urge that it stop," Gibbs said.

In Jerusalem, a senior Israeli government official earlier said Israel will approve construction of West Bank settlement homes before it considers a freeze sought by Washington.

"In the next days the prime minister will approve construction starts and then he might consider a freeze for a limited time under certain conditions," the official told AFP, asking not to be identified.

He confirmed a report in the Jerusalem Post saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would consider a moratorium on settlement construction "for a few months" after the green light is given to build hundreds of new homes in the occupied West Bank.

Gibbs said the United States was trying to create a climate for negotiations and the reports of plans for new settlement "make it harder to create such a climate."

"We do appreciate Israel's stated intent to place limits on settlement activity and will continue to discuss this with the Israelis as these limitations are defined," he added.

A two state solution with a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel "is the ultimate goal to which the President (Barack Obama) is deeply and personally committed," Gibbs said.

"Our objective remains to resume meaningful negotiations as soon as possible in pursuit of this goal. We are working with all parties -- Israelis, Palestinians, and Arab states -- on the steps they must take to achieve that objective."