The Palestinians' Hamas-dominated parliament today backed off a threat to derail President Mahmoud Abbas' plan to hold a national referendum on a proposal that implicitly recognises Israel, putting off a crucial vote until next week.

Yasser Arafat hovered on the brink of death in a Paris hospital tonight - being kept alive artificially while a cleric flew from the West Bank to be by his side.

THE new Palestinian Cabinet, stacked with ministers hand-picked by Yasser Arafat, is set to win approval by parliament this week but may have trouble renewing talks with Israel, lawmakers said yesterday.

The Palestinian parliament today rejected Yasser Arafat’s request that a Cabinet formed by a future prime minister be “presented” to him – one of several amendments to a reform package the Palestinian leader had proposed.