CAIRO, April 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The Palestinians are keen on coordinating efforts with Israel to implement a planned Israeli pullout from Gaza and part of the West Bank, a Palestinian minister told the Voice of the Arabs radio on Friday.

   "The Palestinians are keen on seizing every peace opportunity and are ready to coordinate future steps with the Israelis,"Palestinian Planning Minister Ghassan Al-Khatib told the Cairo-based radio.

   His remarks came after US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch and Deputy National Security Adviser Eliot Abrams met Palestinian and Israeli officials on the pullout this week.

   The US officials said the Palestinians were more willing than before to coordinate the expected Israeli pullout, according to the minister.

   On Thursday, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and Israeli vice premier Shimon Peres met in Jerusalem to coordinate ways to implement Israel's Gaza pullout plan.

   The meeting lasted for about two hours, said Palestiniansources, adding Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and Minister of Civil Affairs Mohamed Dahlan attended the meeting.

   Later on Thursday night, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Palestinian Minister of Civilian Affairs Mohammed Dahlan alsomet and agreed to form coordination mechanisms ahead of the Israeli Gaza withdrawal and to continue meetings till the implementation ofthe evacuation.

   Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office announced on Friday afternoon that Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will meet in a near future.

   The pullout plan, which calls for a withdrawal of Israeli forcesand settlers from all 21 settlements in Gaza and four out of 120 inthe West Bank, might be delayed for three weeks to avoid clashing with a traditional Jewish mourning period which ends on Aug. 14.

   Al-Khatib, however, voiced concern that the Gaza Strip will remain under the Israeli blockade even after the pullout.  Enditem