JERUSALEM: Israeli settlers warned on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face his "day of judgment" if he caves in to pressure to further limit settlement construction in the West Bank.

"This is not a time to mince words as this is literally a day of judgment for our prime minister and government," said Naftali Bennett, head of Yesha, the main association of settlers in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory.

Yesha wrote a letter warning Netanyahu there would be "serious diplomatic and political implications" if he reneges on his promise to resume issuing building permits for settler homes when a partial, 10-month moratorium concludes on September 26.

The issue of settlements is one of the thorniest in the Middle East peace process and expected to figure prominently at the new round of direct Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations starting in Washington on September 2.

The Palestinians initially insisted they would not sit at the negotiating table without guarantees the moratorium on building permits be extended.

But no such guarantee has been made public in statements from the US administration sponsoring the talks and the Middle East peace Quartet when they announced the new round of negotiations.

Netanyahu faces Palestinian and international calls for a freeze on settlement construction.

But the leader of a left-right ruling coalition, is also under strong pressure from the Israeli right, including from within his own Likud party, to clear the way for construction of more settler homes in the West Bank.

BDST: 1316 HRS, August 25, 2010