Ramallah, Rabi'I 8, 1433, Jan 31, 2012, SPA - Palestinian leaders blamed Israel overnight for what they called the failure of preliminary talks in Amman which international mediators had hoped would lead to peace negotiations. "In light of the results of the Amman meetings, the Palestinian leadership holds Israel fully responsible for the failure, because these meetings revealed Israel's insistence on continuing settlement activities," the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee said. "Negotiations must be based on Israel's recognition of the 1967 borders, a stop to the settlements and the release of prisoners," said a statement posted on the official Palestine News and Information Agency "WAFA" Palestinian and Israeli envoys held five rounds of talks in Amman that ended when a January 26 deadline expired. The Palestinians had warned that they would not continue, and instead step up their diplomatic campaign at the United Nations, sidelining Israel. --MORE 13:15 LOCAL TIME 10:15 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/965917