The United States on Monday asked Israel to stick by the road map peace plan which calls for an end to all settlement activities by the Jewish state.

"Our comment is that the road map calls for an end to all settlement activities, including natural growth," State Departmentdeputy spokesman Adam Ereli said at a news briefing.

"We have discussed with Prime Minister (Ariel) Sharon the need to make progress on the settlement issue, beginning with the removal of unauthorized settlement outposts. We have obviously discussed this issue with the Israelis. Israel has made a commitment. We look forward to Israel to abiding by that commitment and sticking by the road map," Ereli said.

According to the road map peace plan, Israel is obliged to freeze all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories where some 245,000 Israelis live.

However, Israeli media reports said on Monday that Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz had approved 600 new housing units for the West Bank's biggest Jewish settlement.

Source: Xinhua