The platform of Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is the same as his predecessor Yasser Arafat when he rejected an Israeli offer that did not include the right of several million Arabs to immigrate to Israel, former Foreign Minister Sylvan Shalom told Voice of Israel government radio Friday morning. "Abbas is repeating Arafat's demands." Shalom stated.

Shalom, a Likud Knesset Member, warned that Israel is heading into a trap if it attends the planned Middle East conference in the United States without a clearly stated agreement beforehand.