Diplomacy

Bulldozers Back to Work in West Bank

After Israeli settlement freeze ends, endangering peace talks.

Israel has allowed its 10-month ban on building settlements in the West Bank to end, endangering peace talks between Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas. The Palestinian leader had threatened to walk out of talks if construction resumed. Settlers did not heed Netanyahu’s call to show restraint. In Revava, joyous Jewish settlers released 2,000 balloons in blue and white to symbolize how many new apartments would be built there, and ground was broken on a kindergarten. Bulldozers got to work in Ariel, a settlement in the West Bank, on Monday morning; 50 new housing units will be built. Abbas said Sunday he won’t immediately withdraw, waiting instead to consult other Arab leaders. Israel says it wants talks to continue.