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Palestinians say deadline for final peace final

RAMALLAH: The Palestinian Authority said on Saturday a September 13 deadline for a permanent peace deal with Israel was final and non-negotiable because it planned to declare a state by that date.

The Authority said it blamed Israel for blocking the implementation of an outstanding peace agreement and failing to meet deadlines.

"The Palestinian leadership reaffirms that September 13 is the agreed date for concluding the final status. This is a final date and it is not possible to extend or delay that deadline," the Authority said in a statement after its weekly cabinet meeting.

"The Palestinian Central Council has decided that the date for declaring the Palestinian state would not be later than that date," it added.

The PCC, the highest Palestinian legislative authority, decided last month that a state should be declared later this year.

Last May, Arafat bowed to Arab and international pressure to delay the declaration of a state until after the Israeli elections to avoid interfering with the outcome.

Palestinian officials said they were disappointed with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak for breaking his promise to accelerate peace moves with the Palestinians. They said he was no different from his right-wing predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu, who froze peacemaking with the Arabs.

Senior Palestinian officials said the Palestinian leadership was debating when in September it should declare a state. Some proposed September 13, the day set by Arafat and Barak for concluding a peace treaty.

PLO Executive Committee member Abdel-Rahim Mallouh said the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organisation was holding regular meetings to discuss preparations for declaring a state.

The sides have already failed to meet a February 13 deadline for drafting a framework accord on a permanent peace. Palestinian officials said Israel had asked for a two month extension.

Arafat has said repeatedly he has the right to unilaterally declare a state in the West Bank, including Arab East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip later this year if the sides fail to clinch a deal by September 13.

U.S. Middle East envoy Dennis Ross returned to Washington last week after failing to resolve a row over a delayed West Bank land handover which has deadlocked peace talks.

Top Palestinian negotiator Mahmoud Abbas, better known as Abu Mazen, said the situation in Palestinian territories was "deteriorating" as a result of the impasse in the peace process.

"There is frustration as a result of Israel's refusal to accurately implement peace accords. There is an intensive debate within the Palestinian leadership on how to break the current deadlock," Abbas told Reuters.-Reuters