DAMASCUS, Aug. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assadmet here on Sunday with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei on the current Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank, the official SANA news agency reported.

    Assad stressed the significance of boosting the Palestinian unity in this critical stage, SANA said.

    Qurei briefed Assad on Israel's settlement expansion in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and the ongoing preparations of the Palestinian Authority for the aftermath of the Gaza withdrawal.

    "Gaza is a part of Palestine, and it will not get rest until establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," Qurei told reporters after the meeting.

    Qurei arrived here earlier in the day for a two-day visit.Enditem