Olmert - Abbas

       Ministers expressed their anger during Sunday's cabinet meeting at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's plan to try and convince Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to sign a document outlining all the clauses in which agreements had been reached in peace talks thus far. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Olmert must not accelerate the peace process unnecessarily. "We must not let the pressure of time cause us to make one of two grave mistakes: To try and bridge the wide gaps in a manner that will lead to a collapse, or to compromise on issues critical to Israel just to achieve results," she said. Olmert would like to have the sides sign a document outlining agreement on some of the key issues before he leaves office, a so-called "shelf agreement" that would not be immediately implemented, officials from Olmert's office said. A vague agreement of this kind would show what progress has been made and indicate where the negotiations would be picked up by the next prime minister. Officials denied earlier reports that Olmert was trying to push for a document in the near future outlining the progress so far. But Palestinians' version of events was somewhat different, with negotiator Saeb Erekat saying the offer was made but that Abbas had flatly rejected it. "We want an agreement to end the [Israeli] occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," Erekat told The Associated Press. "President Abbas told Olmert that we will not be part of an interim or shelf agreement," he said. "Either we agree on all issues, or no agreement at all." The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the goal had not been officially made public. Palestinians have rejected that approach. Yasser Abed Rabbo, an aide to Abbas, said that the Palestinians "will not accept any partial deal like a framework or shelf agreement." He said the talks between Olmert and Abbas would center on settlement construction, which he called "the most critical issue threatening the whole peace process now." Public Security Minister Avi Dichter also criticized Olmert, saying he was negotiating with the Palestinians without the backing of ministers and without updating them. He expressed concern over the document Olmert was seeking to sign, particularly in light of the fact that the prime minister was likely to end his term in two weeks, while Abbas may be replaced in four months. Prior to Sunday's cabinet meeting, Labor, Trade and Industry Minister Eli Yishai lamented the fact that he was getting most of the details about the peace talks from the media. He also said Olmert had no legal or moral right to sign any agreement with the Palestinians. (17,05)