Palestinians blame Israel for "failure" of Amman talks

Jan 31, 2012, 6:55 GMT

Ramallah - Palestinian leaders blamed Israel overnight for what they called the failure of preliminary talks in Amman which international mediators had hoped would lead to peace negotiations.

'In light of the results of the Amman meetings, the Palestinian leadership holds Israel fully responsible for the failure, because these meetings revealed Israel's insistence on continuing settlement activities,' the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee said.

'Negotiations must be based on Israel's recognition of the 1967 borders, a stop to the settlements and the release of prisoners,' the statement posted on the official Wafa news agency said.

Palestinian and Israeli envoys held five rounds of talks in Amman that ended when a January 26 deadline expired. The Palestinians had warned that they would not continue, and instead step up their diplomatic campaign at the United Nations, sidelining Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to consult with the Arab League on Saturday, before making a final decision about whether to break off the talks.

He also said he would consult the PLO.

The forum of Palestinian faction leaders said it would meet again after Saturday's Arab League committee meeting.

The PLO body, dominated by Abbas' Fatah party, said it would intensify efforts to reconcile with Hamas in Gaza to allow overdue Palestinian elections by mid-year.