The Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said that Israel must choose between settlements and peace. Mr Abbas was speaking at the United Nations General Assembly a day before Israel's partial freeze on settlements building in the West Bank is due to expire. Mr Abbas is under enormous American pressure to stay in the talks and he gave some indication that he may do so pledging complete cooperation to the US efforts to achieve peace agreement. Israel's delegate had said it had done all that it could to slow down the construction for ten months. And that the pro-settlers parties in the coalition would not stand for more. Some law makers have already made plans to end the freeze. In the West Bank there were angry scenes of protests against Israeli land confiscation. Most Palestinians want the peace talks to end if settlements building continue. And Mr. Abbas is feeling the pressure.