Palestinians give U.S. one month to curb settlements

The message, issued at an Arab League meeting in Libya, represented a reprieve for Washington as it tries to salvage 5-week-old talks stalled over Israel's refusal to extend a settlement freeze on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood.

Diplomats said Abbas and Arab foreign ministers had in a closed session mooted "alternatives" to a future resumption of face-to-face negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Abbas's proposals included seeking U.S. and U.N. pledges of recognition for a future Palestine taking in all of the West Bank, and a threat by the president to step down over the impasse, diplomats said.

Following those discussions on Friday, the Arab ministers said they would reconvene on the issue in a month. The Palestinians put the onus on the Obama administration.

"We are giving the United States an opportunity to convince Israel to stop settlements. We are giving them a month which will be a period of political interaction between the United States and Israel," Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah said.

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