Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas will tell American President George W. Bush Thursday that if the PA and Israel do not reach an agreement on creating a new Arab state within Israel's current borders, Hamas will gain influence and possibly become the leading party in the PA.

Abbas is due to meet the president one day after Jordanian King Abdullah II meets with him. He has demanded that the PA and Israel reach an accord before next January, when he leaves office. "If we don't reach an agreement, the Israelis and Americans will have to deal with Hamas in the future," PA officials said.