Palestinians have little say in U.S.-Israel deal

Haaretz- Written guarantee regarding incentive package yet to be drafted because Palestinian Authority believes such agreement would lower its leverage and bargaining power, says Jerusalem source.

...Officials in Jerusalem believe that the Palestinians are particularly disturbed by the following guarantees given by Clinton:

1. The understanding would prevent the Palestinians from demanding another extension of the West Bank construction freeze at the end of the 90-day period, and would take off the agenda completely any building moratorium in East Jerusalem.

2. The American promise to veto any anti-Israeli proposals in the United Nations for more than a year would foil the Palestinian plan to get either the Security Council or the General Assembly to recognize a unilateral declaration of statehood. Read more