A senior Palestinian official Wednesday accused Israel of trying "to murder" the peace process and making it impossible to resume by continuing settlement activities.

Nabil Shaath, the Palestinian negotiator and a member of Fatah' s central committee, said after a meeting in Ramallah with Arab and foreign diplomats that "we want peace, but Israel blocks us to resume it by carrying out its practices on the ground."

"The Palestinians want guarantees to get back to the direct talks," Shaath said, referring to the talks with Israel that were relaunched in Washington on Sept. 2, adding "when Washington becomes able to halt settlement, we will get back to the talks."

On Oct. 8, the Arab League following up committee gave the United States one-month time to pressure on Israel "to freeze settlement and resume the direct peace talks."

The Palestinians refuse to go ahead with the direct talks before Israel halts settlement construction in the Palestinian territories, saying they may turn to other options in case the talks keep obstructed.