JERUSALEM, June 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Israel will hand over light arms to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) as a goodwill gesture before the upcoming summit between Prime Minster Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas next week, Israeli Vice Premier
Shimon Peres told Israel Radio Friday.

   "Light arms do not pose a threat to Israel. The threat on Israel comes on the one hand from a war with tanks and airplanes and on the other hand from terrorists," Peres was quoted as saying.

   The PNA weapons, which were used in the past against Israeli targets, did not threat Israel in a substantial way, he added.

   The Palestinians "are apparently facing many problems...The light arms are really needed in order to place law and order and to fight Hamas," Peres continued, adding that "it is not the guns that threaten us, but the suicide bombers."

   The Sharon-Abbas summit was scheduled on June 21, which is their second summit after they declared a mutual ceasefire at their first meeting on Feb. 8 at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

   One of the key issues to be discussed at the June 21 summit is the implementation of the Israeli pullout plan, which is set to start in mid-August when Israel will withdraw all Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and four out of 120 settlements in the northern West Bank after almost 40 years of occupation.

   Israeli and Palestinian officials met in Tel Aviv over the coordination of the pullout Thursday evening, according to the Israel Radio.

   Israeli coordinator General Yosef Mishlav and PNA Civil Affairs Minister Mohammed Dahlan discussed further measures to alleviate everyday lives of the Palestinians, including the easing of Palestinians' entry into Israel through the separation fence and the extending of operational hours of the Karni crossing into the Gaza Strip.

   The two sides are also set to reach an agreement on the renewal of summer vacation visits, in which Palestinians living in Arab states can visit their families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, said the report. Enditem