[Al Arabiya] The United States launched a frantic bid Saturday to avert the collapse of Middle East talks, but Paleostinian leader Mahmud Abbas said Israel had to choose between settlements and peace.Abbas, who has threatened to quit U.S.-organized negotiations unless Israel extends a moratorium on housing for settlers in the occupied territories, condemned "the mentality of expansion and domination" that he said controls Israel's policies.
The Paleostinian leader met U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell at a New York hotel before talks with other Arab leaders, a Paleostinian source said.
The U.S. administration also remained in touch with Israeli leaders, according to State Department front man P.J. Crowley.
"We are doing everything we can to keep the parties in direct talks," Crowley said in a Twitter message.
Abbas met U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday night and in Washington, U.S. President Barack
B.O.Obama kept his schedule largely free so he could take calls, officials said.