The New Nation - Internet Edition

Washington

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will not accept any peace agreement with Israel that fails to meet the demands of the Palestinian people, his spokesman said here Friday, one day after his White House visit. "No agreement will be submitted to a referendum if it does not fulfill the expectations of the Palestinian people and their leadership, led by president Abbas," spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP.

"We won't accept the delay of any matter under negotiation. A potential agreement must conform to international resolutions," Abu Rudeina said, warning of the risk of "missing the opportunity" to find peace. Abu Rudeina spoke one day after Abbas met with President George W. Bush, who assured him he was "confident" about reaching an agreement on creating a Palestinian state before Bush leaves office in January 2009.