Chief Palestinian Authority (PA) negotiator Saeb Erekat threatened on Wednesday that the PA will not attend the planned Annapolis, Maryland conference if Israel doe not agree on key issues beforehand. His statement is the latest in a number of comments that represent an escalation in rhetoric that may scuttle the Bush administration plans to hold the conference in December.
"The Palestinian position is very clear," he said. "We won't go to the conference unless we reach an agreement with Israel on the final status issues and a clear timetable for the implementation of any agreement between the two parties." Israel has firmly rejected setting out a timetable, fearing it will be trapped into further concessions while support continues to weaken for the Olmert administration.