Palestinian official: There's no point negotiating with Olmert

There is no longer any point negotiating with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert since he is about to leave his post and doesn't have the mandate to sign an agreement, a senior Palestinian official said Tuesday. Speaking to Israel Radio the official added that Olmert was interested in an agreement on principles, but that the Palestinians were opposed to such a move. He went on to say that chief Palestinian negotiator Amhed Qurei (Abu Ala) did not travel to Washington with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas since he was opposed to continuing negotiations with Olmert.