Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that talks between Israel and the U.S. over construction in the West Bank settlements had ended and the two countries had resolved settlements row, local daily Ha'aretz reported Monday.

Netanyahu made these remarks while meeting visiting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero last Thursday, saying "we solved the matter of the settlements with the Americans," according to the report.

"I cannot say more than that. If you are interested in hearing more details, ask in Washington," the Israeli premier was quoted as saying.

It is not clear what Netanyahu meant and what details of the " solution" are, but this is the first time that Netanyahu said the settlements issue has been solved, said Ha'aretz.

The settlements issue is the main bone of contention between the Obama administration and Israel.

Citing sources in Jerusalem, the report said that Netanyahu spoke about the matter after his representatives Mike Herzog and Yitzhak Molcho reached agreements in Washington during their talks last week.

Molcho and Herzog returned to Israel last weekend after meeting U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell and his staff. The central point of the discussions was the conditions for opening negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as how the talks will be conducted, their goals and schedule for reaching an agreement.

Molcho and Herzog are expected to fly back to Washington this week for another round of talks, said Ha'aretz, adding that a Palestinian delegation headed by chief negotiator Saeb Erekat will also be there at the same time.

Mitchell and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will write their report to Obama after this round of talks. Obama asked the two to report on the chances of the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and Obama is expected to receive the report next week.

After reading the report and consulting his staff, Obama is expected to make a speech announcing his next steps to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which have been suspended since Israel's military offensive in Gaza in January.

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