The Cabinet was expected to narrowly ratify the agreement despite vocal opposition by several ministers. However, the vote might not be taken until Friday or even Sunday, after many hours of debate, said Netanyahu adviser David bar-Illan.

Netanyahu had postponed the Cabinet meeting twice in two days, charging that the Palestinians had failed to present a time table for the arrests of 30 suspects in the killings of nearly 100 Israelis.

Bar-Illan said the Cabinet was convened after Israel received assurances from the United States last evening that the 30 would be arrested in three stages, with the roundup to be completed by the end of January.

Under the accord, Israel is to withdraw from 13 per cent of the West Bank over a period of 12 weeks, with the Palestinians takingsteps against Islamic militants during each phase of the pullback.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said yesterday that 12 of the wanted men were already in detention, and that he would make an effort to round up the others.

A Palestinian police official said today that in all, 14 were in jail. Several of the suspects have been in Palestinian jails for months or years, but Palestinian security officials in the past refused to provide exact figures.

US Mideast envoy Dennis Ross, meanwhile, delayed his trip to the region. Ross was to arrive today to oversee implementation of the agreement, but is now expected over the weekend, Palestinian officials said.

While the dispute over the wanted men appeared to have been settled, the next crisis already loomed on the horizon.

Israeli and Palestinian officials have widely divergent interpretations of the procedure that will lead to the annulment of clauses in the Palestine Liberation Organization founding charter calling for Israel's destruction.