RAMALLHA, July 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian National Authority has planned to improve economic situation in the Gaza Strip following the Israeli withdrawal, Minister of National Economy Mazen Sanakrot said on Wednesday.

   Sanakrot told radio Voice of Palestine that the plan was designed to fight poverty and cut unemployment.

   Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrialized countries agreed to give 3 billion US dollars to help the
Palestinians rebuild economy over the next three years at the G8 summit earlier this month.

   James Wolfensohn, who was appointed by the so-called international Quartet on Mideast peace to coordinate the Gaza pullout, said he wanted the money to be invested in a seaport and other infrastructures in Gaza.

   Gaza is a slender, sandy strip along the Mediterranean Sea, and home to 1.4 million Palestinians. Israel is scheduled to evacuate 8,500 Jewish settlers from Gaza next month.

   Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Planning Ghassan Khatib told the same radio that "information shortage about the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip hinders the Palestinian preparations in all fields for the stage following the withdrawal."

   He further pointed out that the biggest obstacle is Israeli policy to continue the current closure and restrictions imposed on the movement of the citizens and the goods between the West Bank and the Gaza strip following the withdrawal.

   Israel has rejected all proposals aimed at easing up the movement of the citizens and the goods, Khatib said. Enditem