News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Fatah-PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas rejected Israel's idea of an interim peace agreement at his meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Sunday, PA negotiator Saeb Erekat said.

Before the meeting, Olmert's aides reportedly said the Prime Minister hoped the PA would sign a document outlining the agreements reached with Israel before Olmert leaves office. Erekat told the Associated Press that Abbas "flatly rejected" this request. "We want an agreement to end the occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," Erekat said.

According to Erekat, Abbas told Olmert "that we will not be part of an interim or shelf agreement. Either we agree on all issues, or [there will be] no agreement at all."