Abbas: Israel to Blame for Failure of Latest Talks Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Israel has caused the failure of the latest round of low-level talks with the Palestinians by not presenting detailed proposals. The two sides have held Jordanian-mediated preliminary talks on borders and security for the past month at the urging of the Quartet of international Mideast mediators - the U.S., the U.N., the EU and Russia. The Quartet hoped contacts would evolve into full negotiations. Abbas said in comments carried Sunday by the Palestinian news agency Wafa that "by not presenting a clear vision ... Israel foiled the Quartet talks in (Jordan's capital) Amman. Israel says it wants to keep talking, and that it is serious about reaching a peace deal by the year's end. Abbas is to decide this week whether to continue the talks.