Palestinians considering alternatives to peace talks

RAMALLAH, West Bank - The Palestinians will study alternatives to peace talks with Israel in the coming days, a top PLO official said yesterday, after Israel gave the green light to build 238 new houses for Jews on war-won land Palestinians seek for their state.

However, it's unlikely the Palestinians will take any dramatic steps before Nov. 2 midterm elections in the United States, since Arab leaders have already promised the Obama administration more time - until a few days after the vote - to try to relaunch negotiations. Palestinian officials said their options include taking their case directly to the UN Security Council.

Yesterday's statements seemed intended mainly as a new warning that Washington's peace efforts are in trouble.

The negotiations, launched by the United States in early September, quickly broke down over Israel's refusal to extend a limited curb on construction in West Bank settlements, deemed illegal by the international community.

The Palestinians want to establish their state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem - territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War - and say there is no point negotiating as long as settlements take up more of that land.

Nearly half a million Israelis live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Israel announced on Thursday plans to build 238 more homes for Jews in east Jerusalem, sought by the Palestinians as a future capital.

The Palestinians sharply criticized the move. Both the United States and Russia said in separate statements that they were disappointed by Israel's announcement.

Israeli officials said the new construction was confined to neighborhoods that would remain in Israeli hands in any proposed peace plan and in no way contradicted Israel's goal of reaching peace with the Palestinians.

Yesterday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with leaders of the Palestine Liberation Organization and his Fatah movement.