CRAWFORD, Texas, March 2 (Reuters) - The United States called on Sunday for an end to clashes between Israel and the Palestinians and a resumption of peace negotiations after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas suspended talks with Israel.

Abbas halted the peace negotiations in reaction to an Israeli offensive in Gaza that has killed more than 100 Palestinians, many of them civilians. Israel launched the offensive in response to rocket attacks on southern Israel.

"The violence needs to stop and the talks need to resume," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

(Editing by Bill Trott)

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