Foreign ministers of the G8 group of industrialised nations will today discuss Middle East peace efforts and how to ease Israel's withdrawal from Gaza.
The gathering, hosted by Britain, which holds this year's G8 presidency, follows US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's tour of the Middle East.
As fears mount that violence will beset Israel's pullout, planned for August, ministers will say they see an orderly evacuation from Gaza as vital to renewing peace moves stalled by nearly five years of bloodshed.
British officials say there will be a presentation by James Wolfensohn, the former World Bank president who is now a special envoy representing the "quartet" of Middle East peace mediators charged with overseeing the pullout.
The quartet, which will hold its own meeting before the foreign ministers gather, comprises the United Nations, Russia, the United States and the European Union.
Mr Wolfensohn's mission is to revive the Palestinian economy after Israel's withdrawal and to raise a Palestinian aid package of about $3 billion.
Afghanistan and Iran, which is in the midst of a presidential election, are also on the agenda.
Ministers will state a commitment to helping Afghanistan in its efforts to become safe and prosperous provided the government fights the narcotics trade and deals with corruption.