The European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana will begin a visit to the Gaza Strip and Tel Aviv on Aug. 28 to encourage the peace process after the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and part of the West Bank, Palestinian sources said on Saturday.

The sources said that Solana will hold talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during his visit for at least two days.

The sources quoted an EU diplomat as saying that Solana is expected to make clear to the Palestinian and the Israeli leadership that EU is committed to supporting the withdrawal and peace process in the region.

Source: Xinhua