WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Arab League gave the Palestinian Authority a month to seek a path back to direct talks with Israel.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas suspended talks after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to extend a partial settlement building freeze beyond Sept. 26.
Direct talks had been under way for just under a month. Netanyahu imposed the West Bank building freeze last December as incentive for Palestinians to come to the talks.
Abbas consulted last Friday with Arab League foreign ministers in Libya and emerged with the one-month compromise.
The Obama administration had lobbied hard for more time to bridge the impasse.
"We appreciate the Arab League’s statement of support for our efforts to create conditions that will allow direct talks to move forward," a U.S. State Department statement said Saturday. "We will continue to 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."
Netanyahu has yet to respond to a U.S. offer of diplomatic and security guarantees in exchange for extending the partial freeze for 60 to 90 days.
