Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs Mohamed Dahlan said Sunday that Israel wants to undermine Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' talks with US President Goerge W. Bush during his coming visit to Washington.

Dahlan made the accusation in statements on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF), which just wrapped up in Jordan's Shuneh this evening, according to reports reaching here from the Dead Sea resort.

The Palestinian official said that Israel is trying to torpedo the negotiation process before the Palestinian and American presidents' meeting at the White House due on May 26.

Israel does not only want to thwart President Abbas' visit to Washington, but it is for scuppering the whole peace process, Dahlan added.

Dahlan accompanied Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei toattend the WEF gathering.

He revealed that the meeting on Saturday between premier Qurei and Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres dealt with all topics including Israeli excesses, ruling out the possibility that Israel would offer solutions at that stage especially that they are keen on complicating the matter.

The ceasefire according to the Sharm al Sheikh understandings reached by the Palestinians and Israel on Feb. 8 has come under particular strain in recent days with a Palestinian militant killed by Israeli forces on Friday in an abortive assault on a Jewish settlement.

With the ceasefire in jeopardy, Israel has pledged tougher military action against Palestinians who continue to target Jewish settlements in Gaza, less than 100 days before all settlers are to be evacuated from the territory.

Source: Xinhua