Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has accused Israel of spoiling low-level talks, saying it failed to present detailed proposals for borders and security requested by international mediators.
For the past month, the sides have held Jordanian-mediated exploratory talks at the urging of the Quartet of international Mideast mediators -- the U.S., the UN, the EU and Russia.
Abbas had been deeply skeptical from the start about chances of reaching common ground with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has adopted more hardline positions than his predecessors, particular on disputed Jerusalem.
The Palestinians have said the three-month period set aside by the Quartet for exploratory talks ended last week, counting from the day the mediators issued their marching orders.
But Abbas is under intense international pressure to stay at the table despite his misgivings and would risk being blamed for the failure of the latest Mideast peace efforts -- a risky strategy at a time when he seeks global recognition of a state of Palestine ahead of a possible border deal with Israel.
Abbas is to make a final decision later this week on whether to remain in negotiations.
Israel has said it wants to keep talking and is serious about reaching a deal by year's end. Israel says the exploratory talks should continue for another two months, starting its countdown of the Quartet's three-month period from the beginning of meetings in early January.
Abbas said Israel's efforts so far have fallen short.
"By not presenting a clear vision on the issues of borders and security, as the Quartet demanded, Israel foiled the exploratory talks in Amman," Abbas said in remarks published late Saturday by the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
The Quartet had asked both sides to present detailed proposals on borders and security arrangements between Israel and a future Palestinian state, in hopes the exploratory talks would evolve into full negotiations.
The Palestinians said they presented four-page proposals on each subject, but refused to elaborate. Earlier this week, Israel presented its principles for drawing a border with a future state of Palestine -- the first-ever indication by Netanyahu on how much war-won land he would be willing to relinquish.
Israel had no immediate comment on Abbas' accusation.
Abbas said he remains committed to serious negotiations that would lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state, with east Jerusalem as its capital.
The Palestinians want to establish their state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians, who regained control of Gaza in 2005, have said they are willing to swap some land to enable Israel to keep some of the largest of dozens of settlements it has built on occupied lands. In talks with Netanyahu's predecessor, the Palestinians suggested swapping 1.9 per cent of the West Bank, while Israel proposed 6.5 per cent.
Two Palestinian officials said last week that Israel proposed keeping control of east Jerusalem and essentially turning its West Bank separation barrier, which encloses about 10 per cent of the territory, into the border.
Israeli officials have declined comment.
However, it is unlikely Abbas would accept any deal that leaves east Jerusalem under Israeli control and gives him only 90 per cent of the West Bank.
He is to consult later Sunday with leaders of his Fatah movement and on Monday with top officials in the Palestine Liberation Organization. Over the weekend, he'll brief the Arab League, ahead of a final decision.
Mahmoud Aloul, a senior Fatah official, said Sunday that Fatah would likely urge Abbas to end the talks.
"There is no hope ... that these talks or any talks with this right-wing Israeli government would lead to any progress," Aloul said.
