WASHINGTON - Final-status negotiations towards a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians will be formally launched here on Wednesday, a Palestinian official told AFP Monday.
"The negotiations on the final status will begin on Wednesday in the presence of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas," Palestinian negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo said.
Rabbo also said a joint Israeli-Palestinian document setting out the contours of future negotiations is due to be released Monday on the eve of US-hosted Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, Rabbo said.
"This document, which we are due to conclude today with the blessing of the Americans will determine the terms of reference for negotiations -- such as the roadmap and international resolutions -- and the modalities for negotiations after Annapolis," he said.
Israel foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev denied the two sides had agreed on a final draft of a joint document but said the negotiation teams had made "important progress" in talks on Sunday.
Another Israeli official denied there was an agreement to launch final-status negotiations on Wednesday, which would end a seven-year hiatus.
The Israelis and Palestinians have been trying to narrow differences over the joint document to be issued at Tuesday's peace conference in intense negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas were scheduled to meet later Monday with President George W. Bush, kicking off three days of intense diplomacy.
More than 50 countries and organizations -- including some 16 Arab nations -- are gathering for Tuesday's conference, which is being seen as the first real initiative to revive the peace process in seven years.
str-ezz/rb/ddl/mac
11/26/2007 15:13 GMT