Jerusalem - A Palestinian official yesterday signalled a possible delay in the declaration of statehood, as Israel ruled out further concessions in future negotiations as the deadline for peace draws near.
"If it is not September 13th, it may be November 15th, but the Palestinian Central Council is to decide about this," Mr Zakaria al-Agha, a member of the PLO executive committee, told AFP.
The Central Council is to meet next month on the statehood issue, a week ahead of the September 13th target date for a final peace accord with Israel to end decades of conflict.
Palestinian peace negotiator, Mr Nabil Shaath, yesterday said plans to declare an independent Palestinian state on September 13th remained intact.
Despite reports that leaders of many states have advised the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, not to go ahead with a unilateral declaration, Mr Shaath said the Palestinian position had not changed.