Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat has indicated that the Palestinian leadership is considering scrapping the 1993 Oslo Accords.

The agreement, signed by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) set out a series of agreed principles on self-government in the Palestinian territories. The accords outlined a five-year interim period of Palestinian self-government, which was scheduled to be followed by final status talks and an eventual peace agreement.

However, Erekat blamed Israel on Tuesday for a lack of progress in the peace process and said that given the impasse, the Palestinians would consider withdrawing from the agreements. Speaking in Ramallah, he emphasised that ’such a step would not be an easy decision’.

Erakat’s comments come just two days after similar remarks were made by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is reported to have suggested to the Palestinian leadership,  ‘cancelling the Oslo Agreement as well as the associated economic and security arrangements’.

Abbas’ comments come after several days of protests in the West Bank against the high cost of living. The protests have prompted the Palestinian Authority to announce a decrease in fuel prices, which Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said would be funded by a cut in the salaries of government ministers and other top officials.