Arab ministers on Monday are likely to tell Hillary Clinton they are disappointed she did not exert more pressure on Israel to freeze settlements.

Speaking over the din of half a dozen earthmovers, Evo Katz, the mayor of Yizhar, shrugged off the latest US diplomatic push for a settlement freeze.

Palestinians will not accept a partial settlement freeze, a senior official reiterated on Monday, as Israel and the US pressed on with negotiations.

The United States wants Israel to sign up to a one-year freeze on settlement activity, according to reports on Thursday.