On the day of the clashes, Mr Arafat's chief negotiator, Yasser Abed Rabbo, submitted his resignation.

ECONOMIST: Israel and the Palestinians

Ahmad Abed Rabbo, an Egyptian scholar said the US wants the Brotherhood to win the coming elections.

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Not surprisingly, Abbas's adviser and PA propaganda chief Yasser Abd Rabbo reacted to Kosovo's declaration of independence by recommending that the Palestinians follow the example.

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Yasser Abed-Rabbo, an aide Abbas, said before the meeting that the Palestinians will tell Obama they won't return to negotiations with Israel without a settlement freeze.

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Mr Abed Rabbo has always been loyal to his leader.

ECONOMIST: Israel and the Palestinians

His vice president at the time, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, became president after an election in which he was supported by both Mr. Saleh's ruling party and the opposition.

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Meanwhile Yossi Beilin, a former Labour minister, and Yasser Abed Rabbo, a former minister in the Palestinian Authority, has signed a similar agreement, known as the Geneva accord, after two years of dogged negotiation.

ECONOMIST: Israel