Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas has submitted his resignation today dealing a potentially fatal blow to the peace plan for the region.
Mr Abbas sent his resignation to to the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Mr Yasser Arafat in a letter delivered by senior officials, according to chief Palestinian negotiator Mr Saeb Erekat.
It is not clear whether Mr Arafat will accept the resignation.
Palestinian legislator Ms Hanan Ashrawi said she met Mr Arafat after he received the letter, and that the Palestinian leader said he did not want to make a decision until he had spoken to Mr Abbas in person.
"The issue should be not an issue of personal power struggles but a national issue on how to build a system of government that will empower Palestinians to deal with external challenges," Ms Ashrawi told reporters at Mr Arafat's West Bank headquarters.
Mr Abbas has been frustrated by constant wrangling with Mr Arafat, his aides said. He was also hurt by the near-collapse of the "road map" peace plan and his inability to improve the daily lives of Palestinians.
The prime minister, in the job just four months, was to have met legislators in a closed-door session today to discuss the crisis with Mr Arafat.
Mr Abbas might have been forced out of his position in a vote of confidence in parliament next week, amid growing dissatisfaction in parliament