GAZA, Aug. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior Palestinian National Authority (PNA) official revealed on Saturday that there has been an Egyptian-Palestinian understanding on a joint operation of Gaza Airport after Israel finalizes its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

   Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had reached the understanding last week, Nabil Shaath, PNA Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Information, told reporters.

   Shaath said that President Mubarak will send his intelligence chief Gen. Omer Suleiman to the Gaza Strip on Monday to coordinate closely with the Palestinians the Egyptian-Palestinian future cooperation.

   Abbas met last week with Mubarak in Cairo and both had agreed on activating future coordination between the two sides.

   Shaath added that Suleiman would address the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) on behalf of president Mubarak related to the future of the Gaza Strip and the agreement of calm that Palestinian militant groups reached in Cairo in March.

   Israel has been closing the Gaza Airport for about five years, which was built east of Rafah town in southern Gaza Strip in 1998 and inaugurated by former US President Bill Clinton.

   It has recently agreed that the Palestinians can have their own airport and build up a new seaport after the withdrawal that is expected to be finalized by the end of September.

   During the Intifada, or Palestinian uprising in late September 2000, Israel had prevented the Palestinians from using the airport and two years later, it destroyed the airport's runway, observation tower and several buildings. Enditem