GAZA, Aug. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The Palestinian Ministry of Interior said Wednesday that senior Israeli and Palestinian security officials agreed to intensify security meetings in the coming two weeks.

    The ministry said in a statement that such meetings aim to finalize details of an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.

    The statement said the agreement on intensifying security coordination meetings came following a meeting between Gen. Jamal Abu Zayed, deputy interior minister, and Gen. Dan Hariel, chief ofplanning of the Israeli army.

    A number of security and army officers joined the meeting that was held in an area near Erez Crossing in northern Gaza Strip, the statement said, terming the meeting as fruitful and positive.

    The meeting also discussed details of military maps for both sides, locations of forces as well as places, where both sides will redeploy during the evacuation, it said.

    Meanwhile, a meeting was held Tuesday night between chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres, during which they discussed matters on allowing weapons and security equipment into the Palestinian territories.

    Sources close to Erekat said the Palestinian side rejected during the meeting a proposal to compensate Jewish settlers by any international body. Enditem