Arab states are ratcheting up pressure on the Obama administration to take substantive steps on a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. On Wednesday, the Arab League voted to suspend involvement in Mideast peace talks until the U.S. proposes a comprehensive peace plan to resolve the conflict. The Israeli government has long rejected a 2002 Arab plan that offers Israel peace and normal relations in return for withdrawal from all territory captured in the 1967 war. The Obama administration has also refused to fully endorse the proposal. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said U.S.-brokered talks have become “useless” in the absence of a clear U.S. stance.

Amr Moussa: “The committee sees that the negotiation efforts are useless and decided not to resume any negotiations, and its resumption will be conditioned on receiving a serious offer that puts an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as part of the peace process. This is our decision, and we might now appeal to the Security Council and other international organizations.”