ABC19980505.1830.0850 NEWS CAPTION In London today, the talks between Israel and the Palestinians have broken down. The U.S. couldn't even get Palestinian chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet one another. President Clinton has invited both leaders to a make-or-break summit in Washington next week -- but only if Israel makes some concessions first. Here's ABC's Gillian Findlay. U.S. special envoy Dennis Ross has traveled to the Middle East half a dozen times in the last year alone. The U.S. government gives $3 billion a year to Israel, an average $100 million a year to the Palestinians, but the Americans still found themselves resorting to ultimatums today to keep his process alive. For the moment, the problem is not Yasser Arafat. He's made concessions, dropped his demand that Israel withdraw its troops from more than 30% of the west bank and agreed to the American proposal of 13%. But Israeli prime minister Netanyahu isn't budging. You won't hear U.S. officials complain about that -- at least, not publicly. While details of the U.S. plan have been widely reported, secretary Albright today refused to even confirm them, so as not to embarrass the Israeli leader. We can't be so timid, so paralyzed and so impotent that we are afraid to even articulate what america's view is of A reasonable and balanced position. one reason the administration doesn't want to be seen as pressuring Netanyahu is Israel's strong support in congress. As for Mr. Netanyahu, he has right-wingers in his precarious coalition government threatening to withdraw their support if he gives up any more land to the Palestinians. Gillian Findlay, ABC News, Jerusalem.