Any Israeli unilateral step will escalate tension: Palestinian official

Any Israeli unilateral step will escalate tension between the Palestinians and Israel, former Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo told Xinhua on Tuesday.

"We refuse any unilateral step to define the Israeli final borders, unilaterally to annex the Palestinian territories. This is against the international law and this will escalate tension," Rabbo said on the sidelines of the 18th Arab summit held in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.

Early Tuesday, Israel started its general elections in which Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima party was tipped to win the most seats.

Olmert has announced his intention to unilaterally fix the borders with the Palestinians by 2010 if Kadima wins.

"All of Arab countries are supporting the Palestinian people. I do not see any reservation or any difference among Arab countries concerning support of the Palestinian people," said Rabbo, who is a member of the Palestinian delegation to the summit.

"There is no division here. I do not think that there is division about the Palestinian question ... I see a united position concerning Iraq, concerning Lebanon, concerning Darfur. There is a united Arab position," he said.

Arab leaders kicked off their annual summit on Tuesday to discuss pressing regional issues, especially the Iraqi issue, the Palestinian question and Sudan's Darfur issue.

Source: Xinhua