Shaath: Tactical reasons behind Jordanian and Egyptian requests for delaying declaring the Palestinian state

Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Shaath said that Egypt and Jordan asked Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to delay the plans to announce a Palestinian state on May 4, joining the US and European positions that call for delaying the state's declaration.

Shaath said the Arab and European countries believe that declaring the state on this date will affect the results of Israeli elections to be held on May 17.

Shaath said that Egypt and Jordan cited tactical reasons for the necessity of delaying the state's declaration, because this date no longer serves the Palestinian interest, while delaying it for several months will serve the Palestinian interest.

He said the Arabs and Europeans think that delaying the state's declaration will give the Palestinians the capability of saying they gave Israel a chance to implement the Wye River accord and obtain compensation for the wasted time.