A fresh US-led diplomatic effort was under way yesterday to rescue Israeli-Palestinian negotiations as construction resumed in some Jewish West Bank settlements after Israel's decision to end a 10-month moratorium on building.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas effectively gave US mediators at least a week to resolve the crisis by confirming that he would hold a series of consultations, culminating in an Arab League meeting called for next Monday, before deciding whether to pull out of the negotiations.
Speaking after meeting French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris, Mr Abbas told reporters: "We will not have any quick reactions. After this chain of meetings, we will be able to put out a position that clarifies the Palestinian and Arab opinion on this issue now that Israel has refused to freeze settlements."
US Presidential envoy George Mitchell will fly to the region this week in the hope of salvaging the talks, which Mr Abbas had earlier threatened to break off without an extension to the partial construction freeze.
US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley acknowledged that Washington was "disappointed" by Israel's decision to halt the moratorium and said there were no Israeli-Palestinian negotiations "scheduled at this point". But he said the administration would be "in touch with the parties to see how we move ahead".