Palestinian leadership urges U.S. to blame Israel on peace talks' failure

The Palestinian leadership on Thursday called on the United States to blame Israel on the failure of peace talks in the Middle East.

"It is the time for the U.S. administration to announce that the Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, thwarted the U. S. efforts to make peace," said Saeb Erekat, a PLO official.

Later Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama will deliver a speech on the Middle East. Also on Thursday, Netanyahu will arrive in Washington and will meet Obama Friday.

The speech and Netanyahu-Obama meeting come as U.S.-brokered peace talks have been halted since last year due to differences on Jewish settlement construction in occupied Palestinian territories.