Israel snubs senior Palestinian official

JERUSALEM, July 23 (UPI) -- Israel's national security adviser refused to see a senior Palestinian official who met with the Iranian foreign minister, the prime minister's office said.

Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat had requested the meeting with Uzi Arad, the national security adviser, to discuss allowing Palestinians living in Gaza to travel to the West Bank to attend the upcoming Fatah General Convention, The Jerusalem Post said Thursday.

The Fatah gathering has not been held for 20 years, the newspaper said.

A statement issued by the prime minister's office Wednesday did not rule out the possibility that Erekat will meet with Arad at a later date.

Earlier this month, Erekat met with Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucheher Mottaki at the Egyptian resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh.

Erekat told the Palestinian Maan news agency the two discussed Palestinian reconciliation and national unity as well as other issues related to the Palestinians. It was the first time in 15 years, a Palestinian Authority official met with an Iranian government official, the news agency said.