Arabs give US a month to ‘save peace talks’

The Arab League Follow-up Committee said it would meet “in a month to review the alternatives proposed by (Palestinian president Mahmud) Abbas to determine the necessary steps to be taken on this.”

The committee,which groups 13 foreign ministers,urged Washington to pursue efforts in the meantime to stop Israeli settlement activity.

It added that it “supports the position of the Palestinian president calling for a total cessation of settlement to allow the resumption of direct negotiations.”

The Palestinian leader’s spokesman,Nabil Abu Rudeina,said the statement “offers huge support for the position of president Abbas.”

“The committee will convene again in a month to study the alternatives,which gives the US administration a chance between now and then to try to find a solution to the settlements issue,” he said.

Washington expressed appreciation for the ministers’ statement of support for its efforts. “We will continue t o work with the parties,and all our international partners,to advance negotiations toward a two-state solution and encourage the parties to take constructive actions toward that end,” State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said.

But the Islamist Hamas movement,which has controlled the Gaza Strip since ousting forces loyal to Abbas in 2007,expressed frustration that Arab ministers had not gone further in supporting the abandonment of talks.

“Giving more time to the Americans will just bring more pressure on Arab governments and the Palestinian side and lead to the actions of the Israelis being ignored”,said spokesman Fawz Barhum.

Abbas came to Sirte to seek backing to withdraw from the peace negotiations after Israel adamantly refused to extend a freeze on settlement building that expired on September 26.

Last-ditch efforts to reach a compromise appeared to have failed,with Israel silent on the moratorium and the Palestinians insisting they would not talk while settlement activity continued on land they want as a future state.