Palestinians Say Israel Keeping U.S. out of Peace Talks

A senior Palestinian official accused Israel on Thursday of preventing the United States from taking part in peace talks, two days after a new round of meetings.

"The American side has not participated in any meetings until now between Israel (and the Palestinians)," Palestine Liberation Organization secretary general Yasser Abed Rabbo told Voice of Palestine radio.

"Washington said it would be a direct partner in talks but so far this hasn't happened because of Israel's insistence on keeping the U.S. away from meetings," he said.

"If the U.S. can't impose its presence, then it will not have any direct influence on achieving progress in negotiations," Abed Rabbo added.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held two separate meetings on Tuesday in the latest round of U.S.-backed talks between the two sides.

The talks, which resumed last month after a three-year hiatus, have been overshadowed by Israeli plans to build more than 2,000 new homes for Jewish settlers on occupied Palestinian territory.

Abed Rabbo slammed the settlement expansion plans, saying they threatened the renewed peace efforts.

"Israel's continued and unrestricted settlement building is a danger to resumed talks, which could end in disaster," he said.