News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Palestinian Authority (PA) chief negotiator Ahmed Qureia doubts that the PA and Israel will be able to agree on a joint declaration prior to the Annapolis, Maryland conference that is scheduled for next week. A Saudi Arabian newspaper reported that Qureia stated he will not meet with the Israeli negotiating team again before the conference.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, but the two sides remain far apart concerning PA demands for further Israeli concessions before the summit.

American State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Monday that he was optimistic for "a good, solid understanding in a document about the understandings that they have reached."