The Israeli Government has yet to ratify the deal, saying the main problem is the Palestinians' failure to arrest 30 people accused of terrorist offences.

Washington says the Palestinians have so far kept their side of the bargain.

State Department spokesman James Rubin said the Palestinian Authority had given the United States details of a comprehensive plan to enhance Israeli security a few days ago and that they had now met their initial responsibilities.

Lyse Doucet: Israel still refuses to release prisoners

But the US has acknowledged that more needs doing to persuade Israel. Officials confirmed that the US is now trying to resolve Mr Netanyahu's demands for the arrest of 30 people accused by Israel of terrorist offences.

That issue was not included in the Wye accord but Israel says the Palestinians are expected to address it.

Washington correspondent Richard Lister: "US will have to shepherd this deal every inch on the way"

The US special envoy, Dennis Ross, is due to arrive in the Middle East on Thursday to oversee implementation of the peace deal.

The BBC Washington correspondent, Richard Lister, says the Americans are having their work cut out to prevent the deal falling at the first hurdle.

Netanyahu's delay warning

There are prospects of fresh delays in the implementation of the deal between Israel and the Palestinian authorities.

Netanyahu: Still "awaiting" Palestinian security guarantees

The Israeli cabinet was due to begin discussion of the agreement on Monday but, only hours before the meeting, the Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said he was still awaiting what he described as an important guarantee.

He said a "vital element" of the Palestinian anti-terrorism plan required under the accord was missing from the plan submitted to the US Government on Monday by the Palestinian Authority.

Israeli Defence Minister, Yitzhak Mordechai, said the main problem was the failure of the Palestinian Authority to arrest 30 suspected killers of Israelis.

A senior Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, has called for American intervention to force Israel to ratify the peace agreement.

Vote due

The agreement reached last month in the United States envisages Israeli troop withdrawals from the West Bank in return for Palestinian security guarantees.

A Israeli cabinet vote on the peace deal was expected to take place on Wednesday.

The deal will also have to be approved by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, before it can proceed. It is due to vote on 12 November.

This raises the prospect of a new delay in approving the land for peace deal with the Palestinians and disruptions to the agreement's 12 week timetable.