Ariel Attias, the Housing Minister from the Sephardic-hareidi Shas party, acknowledges that no Yesha housing projects will be approved in the near future until "understandings" are reached with the United States.
The Prime Minister's Bureau issued a strong denial on Tuesday afternoon that an agreement had been reached, in accordance with U.S. demands, to stop Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria. This corresponds with the statement by Attias to the effect that there is no "freeze," but merely a period of "waiting."
Ketzaleh: "I call upon the leaders of Shas to refuse to take part in this terrible tragedy that Netanyahu is bringing upon the hareidi public." 
Asked by Voice of Israel radio reporter Anat Davidov what was the practical difference between a "freeze" and "waiting," Attias said, "I can just tell you what's happening. Over the past five months, since this government has taken office, the fact is that no construction tenders in Judea and Samaria have received the approval of Defense Minister Ehud Barak, which is necessary for those areas. There are many buildings that are waiting for his approval, but I don't want to fool anyone or myself: it will not happen in the next few days."
Earlier, Netanyahu spokesman Mark Regev had said "no comment" when asked about reports that the Prime Minister had issued a stop-work order on 900 housing units in the northern Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgat Ze'ev. It was also reported that an agreement had been reached between the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister and Attias to freeze all construction in Judea and Samaria until the beginning of 2010.
Attias justified the "waiting" period by saying, "The Prime Minister is acting wisely in not trying to one-up the Americans. This is a new administration, and we need not fight with them. We have to wait to see how we can reach an agreement with them, and that's why there have been all these meetings with George Mitchell, etc."
"There is no freeze," Attias reiterated. "Netanyahu said clearly in his speech at Bar Ilan University that there would be no disruption or a stop to regular life of Jews in the Land of Israel." However, when asked if he and Netanyahu had agreed upon a freeze, he said, "I don't want to discuss my conversations with the Prime Minister."
National Union MKs Attack
The dry approach taken by Attias drew the ire of religious Knesset Members from the National Union.
Party leader Yaakov Katz (Ketzaleh) said, "I cannot remember when, in the history of the Jewish People, there were Jewish leaders who were as bad to their nation as Netanyahu, in totally freezing Jewish construction in the Biblical Land of Israel and in Jerusalem. I call upon the leaders of Shas to refuse to take part in this terrible tragedy that Netanyahu is bringing upon the hareidi public, wherein young couples are forced to live in stores and are even, for the first time, considering leaving Israel. The Cabinet ministers of Shas must demand immediate construction in [the hareidi-religious Yesha cities of] Beitar illit and Kiryat Sefer."
MK Michael Ben-Ari said, ""Housing Minister Attias of Shas is continuing the path of the Oslo criminals, by cooperating with the construction-freeze policy. Netanyahu appointed him because he wanted a Minister of Freezing and Destruction."
Science and Technology Minister Rabbi Dr. Daniel Herskovitz, who heads the coalition-member Jewish Home party, said, "Israel is not a satellite of the United States. We have close ties with the Americans, but this must be a two-way street. They need us as well, and we must stand up for our principles – not to mention that the Palestinians each time reveal their true intentions and that they have no interest in peace."