The Palestinian Authority called off the summit meeting between the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon scheduled for October 2, Israeli officials said on Sunday.
Earlier, Israel canceled a meeting between chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and Dov Weissglass, senior adviser to Sharon, which was supposed to prepare the ground for the Sharon-Abbas summit.
Abbas said earlier Sunday that more preparation was needed ahead of the talks.
‘If we want a successful meeting, we should prepare for it,’ Abbas told reporters. ‘If this is done, then there is no obstacle to holding the meeting.’
Also Sunday, the Palestinian Legislative Council delayed its Monday’s no-confidence vote against Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei’s government because of the latest escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian lawmaker Azzam al-Ahmad said the debate had been postponed due to Israeli air strikes and closures imposed on the Palestinian areas.
The no-confidence motion was submitted by 16 PLC members in protest at the Palestinian Authority’s failure to end lawlessness in the Palestinian areas.
If the no-confidence motion is passed by the PLC, Abbas has to name a new government.
