The UN Secretary-General has agreed to a one-day delay in the arrival of a team to investigate Israel's military assault on the Jenin refugee camp.
Israel's Foreign Minister asked Kofi Annan to delay the arrival of the three-member team until Sunday night.
Shimon Peres wanted the delay to allow the Israeli cabinet to take a formal decision on the mission at a meeting on Sunday morning.
Israel gave a green light to a fact-finding mission last Friday, saying it had "nothing to hide".
However, after Kofi Annan announced the members of the team on Monday, Israel asked for a delay to seek changes in its composition and mandate.
Kofi Annan refused to delay the mission, saying it was expected in the Middle East by Saturday, but agreed to an Israeli request for a delegation to go to New York to express its concerns.
The delegation had held talks with a UN team led by Kieran Prendergast, the UN Undersecretary-General.
After insisting that there would be no delay, Kofi Annan changed his mind because of the Jewish Sabbath, preventing the Israeli Cabinet from voting on whether to allow the mission.
The Palestinians accuse the Israeli army of a massacre of civilians during eight days of fighting in the Jenin camp.
Israel says its army fought intense gun battles with Palestinian gunmen, who were the main victims.
PA