Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Sunday.

According to a senior Israeli official, Netanyahu told Kerry that the building plans for Shvut Rachel in the West Bank did not constitute the establishment of a new settlement, as Washington claims.

Rather, the plans were meant to create alternative housing for residents of the unauthorized outpost of Amona if no other solution can be found, Netanyahu said in a phone conversation, according to the official who asked not to be named.

The phone call came after particularly harsh U.S. criticism on Wednesday of the construction plans. 

The Israeli official did not say whether Netanyahu explained to Kerry why the approved building plans call for 98 housing units with an option to increase that number to 300

Source: MENA