Hebron – Ma'an – Governor of Hebron Hussein Al-Araj warned that renewed settlement building in the area "are pushing Palestinians to react seriously," he said on Sunday evening.

Israel is not offering Palestinians motivation to return to negotiations by continuing settlement construction in the West Bank, Al-Araj said, which justifies President Mahmoud Abbas' refusal to return to negotiations while building of settlements and the separation wall is ongoing.

"Let everyone know that Israeli settlement construction is still in place, contrary to Israeli allegations," he said.

Al-Araj's comments follow the laying of the foundations of a new block to the Beit Hagai settlement, south of Hebron City.