Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pulled out of a planned meeting with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell today. The move is being interpreted as a sign of growing over President Barack Obama's call for a complete halt to the construction of Jewish settlements on Palestinian land, which are illegal under international law Mr Netanyahu has effectively rejected the call, saying more building should be allowed within the boundaries of existing settlements to facilitate natural population growth. French President Nicolas Sarkozy met the Israeli PM In Paris yesterday and insisted afterwards on a complete and immediate halt to all settlement construction.