THE Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, will bring a "positive" approach to his meeting this week with Israel's Foreign Minister. Mr David Levy, an Arafat adviser said yesterday.
"President Arafat will meet with Foreign Minister Levy on Tuesday at Erez", said Mr Khaled Salam, who advises Mr Arafat on economic and political issues.
"Mr Levy will find President Arafat positive and understanding as he hopes to find the same from Levy", he said.
An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman refused to confirm a date, although Israel has said the meeting will be held this week.
Mr Salam said: "The Palestinian side considers this a very important meeting especially since it is the first high level contact since the election of the new (Israeli) government.
He added: "The Israelis have to return to the principle of trading land for peace and - for the Israeli side to relax - we say trading land for peace and security. We don't see any harm in developing this phrase from the Palestinian and Arab point of view."
The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, has vowed to make peace with security. He has said he is opposed to trading land for peace, the principle that guided nearly five years of peace talks, and will meet Mr Arafat only if he deems it necessary for the security of Israel.
A Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) official, speaking on condition he not be named, said: "We expect an announcement after the meeting on Israeli redeployment from Hebron and resumption of talks and contacts with Israel."
Final peace talks between the PLO and Israel began on May 5th and have yet to resume under Mr Netanyahu. In September, Israel agreed to redeploy its troops in the West Bank town of Hebron. Mr Netanyahu has said he is studying the agreement and has yet to make a decision.