Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Wednesday a meeting previously scheduled for Thursday between President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was postponed till early August.

    "The meeting between President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert won't be held tomorrow (Thursday). It was decided to be held in Jerusalem in the first week of next month (August)," Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio.

    He said the Palestinian side would take all the permanent status issues onto the negotiating table, including settlements activities, the status of Jerusalem, the refugees, water, borders, security and prisoners in Israeli jails.

    "We hope that we will be able to reach an agreement on the permanent status issues before the end of this year and before a new U.S. administration is elected," said Erekat.

    During the Annapolis peace conference held in the United States in November, Israel and the Palestinians agreed to resume peace talks to clinch a final solution to all the permanent status issues by the end of 2008. However, no progress has been made so far.

    Erekat disclosed a three-way meeting in Washington at the end of this month, denying reports saying that the upcoming sessions of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians will be held in Washington.

    "On July 30, a three-way meeting will be held in Washington that will include Israel, Palestinians and U.S. officials," Erekat said, adding "then all the talks will be held in the region and will continue until a deal is reached."

    He also rejected that the Palestinians have asked the United States to prepare a draft deal that includes all the agreed points for the two sides to sign.

    Meanwhile, the Palestinian negotiator affirmed that the meeting to be held in Ramallah later in the day between President Abbas and U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama "is so important."