Still, he rejected the Israeli demand for the arrest of 34 radicals, saying that people would be arrested only if there was sufficient proof.

He also rejected Israeli demands that Lebanon disarm the guerrillas.

But many others opposed the action, saying the Palestinians should not give in to Israeli demands.

According to participants in the meeting, Rajoub cast scorn on the Israeli demand.

The Palestinian security forces have rarely detained militants in recent years despite Israeli demands that they do so.

An endorsement by the executive committee would have been a nod to Israeli demands that the Palestinians follow through on the council's decision.

He worries, he said, that the Arab states will give in to Israeli demands to drop the issue altogether.

After so much sacrifice, they said, Palestinians could not accede now to Israeli demands without any evident gain.

There is one Israeli demand which the EU cannot accommodate - and my group supports this view.

Despite the statement, Palestinian leaders said that they believed ways could be found to get around the Israeli demands.