DAVOS, Switzerland - Vice Premier Shimon Peres is due to meet with Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayad today, the first such meeting between the two sides, in order to coordinate economic aspects of the disengagement plan.

The meeting will take place during the annual economic conference organized by the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

Following the meeting, Peres and Fayad will participate in a session that will focus on the diplomatic process between Israel and the Palestinians. Industry and Trade Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Economy Minister Maher al-Masri will join Foreign Ministers Silvan Shalom and Nabil Sha´ath on the panel.

Conference organizers hinted that newly elected Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is likely to take part in the conference tomorrow.

A possible meeting with Peres is likely if Abbas does visit Davos.

"The immediate matter that I will discuss with Fayad will be the easing of restrictions at the crossing points," Peres said.

He added that Israel intends to authorize the installation of electronic scanners at the border crossings between the two sides in order to shorten the time lag for the transfer of goods.

"We shall try to reach an agreement for the joint funding [of the scanners] with the World Bank," he said.

Peres noted that Israel is willing to allow the employment of 35,000 Palestinians in Israel by 2008.

The original Israeli plan called for the gradual reduction in the number of Palestinians working in Israel to the point of ending the practice entirely. (© Copyright 2005 Haaretz. 01/28/05)