WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. isn't ready to write off Mideast peace negotiations as failed, even after Israeli broke off talks with Palestinian leaders who are trying to create a coalition government with the Hamas terror group.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki refused Thursday to declare the negotiations over and said the U.S. is "still making the effort.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would never negotiate with a Palestinian government that includes people who have called for the destruction of Israel, as Hamas has.

The negotiations began nine months ago with a goal to reach an agreement by April 29.

Since then, talks have yielded so little progress that diplomats have been trying to create a framework by that date for the talks to continue for several more months.

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