Defense Minister Ehud Barak will depart Monday for the United States to meet with U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell.

Barak is expected to suggest to the Americans the Israeli obligation to freeze for three months construction within Judea and Samaria. According to Army Radio, Barak’s proposed temporary halt to construction also includes a freeze on what is called “natural growth,” an allowance for expanding existing Jewish towns within Judea and Samaria for birth increase.