Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, on Tuesday rebuffed a US plea to reopen peace talks with Israel, casting further doubt over the future of one of President George W. Bush’s diplomatic initiatives in the face of spiralling violence in the region.

Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, had urged the reopening of negotiations with Israel in a meeting with Mr Abbas in Ramallah, saying the two sides could still reach an agreement by the end of the year.