Participants welcomed a clear and unequivocal Palestinian declaration against violence and terrorism.

Nov. 15 Second anniversary of the Palestinian declaration of independence.

Israeli officials said the framework would also serve to defuse the threat of a unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood.

Mr. Abbas's speech came on the anniversary of a Palestinian declaration of independence, made in 1988.

In its formal response to the Palestinian declaration, Syria said it was "natural" for Damascus to support a Palestinian state.

Rumors continue that the council will approve a Palestinian declaration of independence and a new manifesto recognizing Israel and renouncing terrorism.

A Palestinian declaration of independence, Mr. Shamir said Monday before the announcement, would "change nothing in our country or in the territories."

Bangladesh is one of the 93 countries to recognise Palestine as a state since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence on November 15, 1988.

An Arabic-language newspaper today published what it said was a Palestinian "declaration of independence" that will be issued by the Palestine Liberation Organization this month.

Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries to be the State of Palestine.