Informed Palestinian sources affirmed that the Palestinian and Israeli negotiations teams will meet once again today amid expectations that the Palestinian side will listen to what the Israeli government decided after the negotiations that were held in Washington between American and Israeli officials and Israeli PM Olmert was briefed on the results of those negotiations in a meeting that included Israeli Defense Minister Barak and FM Livni. The meeting comes amid expectations that Israel is most probably to reject implementing its commitments in the roadmap, dealing in principle with the settlement activities. There is also an Arab ministerial meeting on November 22 in the presence of President Abbas to take an Arab decision on participation in Annapolis Conference.

Palestinian officials say they hope that the United States succeeded in convincing Israel on showing clear will and determination to reach an agreement, especially after the hardline positions that Israelis adopted in the intensive negotiations held so far between both sides without achieving any concrete results.

Informed sources said the US Secretary of State Rice canceling her visit to the region before Annapolis explains the difficulties facing the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations so Rice would only use the diplomacy of phone calls with the parties. US State Department Spokesperson did announce that Rice will not make any visit to the region before Annapolis Conference. The Palestinian and Israeli negotiations delegations are expected to meet today headed by Qurei' and Livni.

The sources say that the decision on the Arab participation in the conference will be taken on November 22-23, 2007 as the Arab League will meet at the level of the FMs in Cairo to listen to a comprehensive report from President Abbas on the progress achieved in the negotiations and the expectations from Annapolis Conference. The sources revealed that several countries decided not to participate at the ministerial level but will attend through their ambassadors in Washington.

Palestinian officials said the Israeli government rejects total freeze on settlement activities in the Palestinian lands contrary to what is stipulated in the first phase of the roadmap. Palestinian informed sources said the Israeli side believes it can continue with what Israel terms as natural growth of the settlements.

Saeb Erekat, head of the negotiations affairs department in the PLO, said the Palestinian side handed yesterday to the US Administration a letter demanding work to demand from Israel to freeze settlement activities in the Palestinian lands, including freeze on natural growth construction. Erekat handed the US Consul General yesterday the letter, stressing that the letter includes Palestinian insistence on not allowing any tricks or games with regards to the issue of the freeze of settlement activities. When asked if this is a Palestinian condition on participation in Annapolis, Erekat said the letter was not phrased in this manner but said that the Palestinian leadership will not allow any evasion on the demand of halt of settlement activities. He said the Palestinian side has not decided yet on participating in the conference officially and this is because the Palestinian side has not received any invitation yet. He said President Abbas insists on holding an Arab meeting before heading to Annapolis in case the invitation comes from the US Administration.

Published at Al Ayyam NewsPaper on November 18, 2007