GAZA, Feb. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Well-Informed Palestinian sources reported on Sunday that several senior European officials would visit Israel and the Palestinian territories within the coming days to discuss the future of the peace process.

    The European officials expected to appear in the region include German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, said the sources.

    According to the sources, Steinmeier's visit would focus on the Israeli-Palestinian relations especially after the victory of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Jan. 25 Palestinian legislative election.

    Solana would also visit the region within the week to meet with Palestinian and Israeli officials, said the sources, adding that it was not clear whether Solana would meet with Hamas leaders.

    Meanwhile, a spokesman of the German Foreign Ministry confirmed that Steinmeier will travel to Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Turkey.

    These diplomatic developments in the Middle East come following Moscow's surprise plans to invite Hamas for talks, which has got France's support by saying that "such talks might advance the position of the Quartet Committee."

    Israel had totally rejected Russia's plan, saying that such meetings would definitely harm the peace process in the Middle East. Enditem