A senior Palestinian Authority (PA) official told Voice of Israel government radio Tuesday afternoon there is no sense in talking with outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert because he will not remain in office much longer. In addition, PA senior negotiator Ahmed Qureia stated objections to Prime Minister Olmert's insistence on trying to bring about "a statement of principles" instead of a final pact for a new Arab state within Israel's current borders.

The PA negotiator, who formerly was prime minister of the PA, refused to join PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas on his trip to Washington this week.