'No quick decision on peace talks', says Abbas

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said today there will be no “quick decision” on whether to pull out of Middle East peace talks now Israel’s ban on West Bank settlement building has ended.

Mr Abbas said he will consult with the 22-member Arab League next Monday on how to proceed.

Mr Abbas has repeatedly said Palestinians would quit newly relaunched peace talks if Israel resumed settlement activity.

A 10-month slowdown on building expired at midnight, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not renew the order.

Mr Abbas’s comments were seen as the Palestinians giving US mediators more time to reach a compromise.