RAMALLAH, Aug. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian Minister of Planning Ghassan al-Khatib lauded on Monday the recent visit of the Mideast quartet's special envoy James Wolfensohn over the coming Israeli Gaza pullout.

    Khatib told reporters that Wolfensohn brought the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) more details of the Israeli withdrawal, which would help the Palestinian side better coordinate with Israelover the pullout.

    Wolfensohn, envoy of the quartet committee grouping key Mideast mediators of US, EU, UN and Russia, visited Gaza on Saturday and held talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Civil Affairs Minister Mohammed Dahlan.

    "The PNA is studying the details offered by Wolfensohn," said Khatib.

    In addition, the minister revealed that Wolfensohn failed to persuade the Palestinian side to remove the rubble from the settlers' houses slated to be evacuated later this month.

    Khatib said Wolfensohn advised Palestinian officials that the rubble could be reprocessed for cement and bricks.

    But Khatib insisted that clearing the leftover rubble was not a job solely for the Palestinian side, saying Israel should also help.

    Israel has decided to demolish settlers' houses after the pullout and wants the estimated 1.5 million tons of rubble to stay in Gaza or be removed by the Palestinians.

    But the Palestinian side deems the rubble removal as an Israeli job, although it voiced willingness to cooperate in taking away the rubble. Enditem