Jerusalem - Israeli settlers say they will slowly resume building new Jewish homes in West Bank settlements - just hours after a construction ban that helped jump-start Mideast peace talks expired.
Mayor Oded Revivi in the Efrat settlement said on Monday that banks and developers are reluctant to get into commitments, fearing construction will be stopped again.
Palestinians have threatened to walk out of the recently resumed negotiations if the building continues, though Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has signaled he won't immediately quit peace talks.
US-led efforts to work out a compromise over the weekend failed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Abbas to keep negotiating. - AP