U.S envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell is in Jerusalem meeting with Israeli officials.

They will be discussing what has become one of the most contentious issues between the U.S. and Israel settlements. 
    
The Obama administration is demanding Israel not only freeze settlements but also stop what is called "natural growth." 
   
CBN News talked with the mayor of Efrat, one of the settlements just outside of Jerusalem, and asked him what he thinks of the U.S. position.

Click the player to hear CBN News' John Wagee discuss natural growth and what it means for Israel and the U.S.

"It's quite a distrubing request," he said. "It's a disturbing request because I believe the American government is coming from a background, a belief that the settlements are an obstacle to peace. I think anybody that knows the history slightly longer than the term that the Barack Obama has been in office understands that the Israelis haven't been the obstacle to peace."