Palestinian official blasts U.S.

A senior Palestinian official blasted the United States saying it is showing disdain for Arabs by trying to prevent the Palestinian statehood recognition at the United Nations. America's policy appears to be confined to one point -- stopping the Palestinians from embarking on the initiative, Palestinian official Yasser Abed Rabbo said Wednesday. "The subject is not settlements, or Palestinian independence or the rights of the Palestinian people or halting criminal violations perpetrated by settlers against the Palestinian people," Abed Rabbo said in an interview on the Voice of Palestine Radio. His statements came as US Middle East envoy David Hale was poised to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the latest American effort to halt the U.N. maneuver and convince the Palestinians to resume direct negotiations with Israel.