Meanwhile Yossi Beilin, a former Labour minister, and Yasser Abed Rabbo, a former minister in the Palestinian Authority, has signed a similar agreement, known as the Geneva accord, after two years of dogged negotiation.

ECONOMIST: Israel

Mr. Obama has also ordered that al Qaeda leaders are to be protected from "outrages on personal dignity" and "humiliating and degrading treatment" in accord with the Geneva Conventions.

WSJ: John Yoo: Obama Made a Rash Decision on Gitmo

The draft CW accord now being developed in Geneva would require only that 60 countries have to enroll before the treaty enters into force.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Chemical Warfare: Beware Bush��s Perilous Delusions