Top Palestinian envoy to Israel says cooperation has limits

By JOSEPH KRAUSS and JOSEF FEDERMAN
Associated Press

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Hussein al-Sheikh is a senior Palestinian official who serves as the main liaison with Israel. He is increasingly seen as a successor to the 86-year-old Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Al-Sheikh said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday that relations with Israel have gotten so bad that Palestinian leaders cannot go on with business as usual. But even if they are serious this time around, they have few options. And they appear unlikely to do anything that undermines their own limited power in parts of the occupied West Bank. Al-Sheikh is widely seen as being groomed for the top job, drawing criticism that Abbas is once again ignoring the wishes of his people.