Israeli and Palestinian officials tried to narrow differences over how to operate the Gaza-Egypt border, while Israel's defense minister was to head to Egypt later this month for talks on the issue. Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat met in Tel Aviv on Friday to work on security and customs arrangements at the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border, Gaza's main gate to the world. Meanwhile in the West Bank, protests continued over the ongoing construction of Israel's separation barrier.

Erekat said the differences over Rafah were largely technical and could be overcome.

The Palestinians have said they would only reopen Rafah for good after reaching an agreement with Israel on security and customs arrangements.

Under an emerging deal, European inspectors would be deployed at Rafah, but Israel has yet to give its final approval. Goods would enter Gaza through a new terminal at the Gaza-Egypt-Israel meeting point, under direct Israeli inspection.

Erekat said several previous meetings have yielded progress and that he hoped the border could reopen in time for Eid al-Fitr, a major Muslim holiday at the beginning of November.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, will embark on a five-nation tour on Saturday which will culminate in a summit at the White House with U.S. President George W. Bush, officials said.

Abbas will first stop in both Jordan and Egypt before heading for talks in Paris with French President Jacques Chirac and then onto Spain.

His session with Bush is scheduled for October 20.

His sorties to Europe and Washington will be the first time that Abbas has left the region since the last Israeli soldiers left the Gaza Strip on September 12, a move that the international community hopes can help revitalize the ailing peace process.

It will also be an opportunity for Abbas to retrieve some of the diplomatic initiative that has been seized by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has won widespread international praise for ordering the first-ever pullout from occupied Palestinian territory.

Abbas had to scrap plans to attend last month's annual United Nations General Assembly, which was attended by Sharon, to oversee the handover in Gaza.

His trip to France, a traditional ally of the Palestinians, will be his first to the country since he visited the deathbed of his predecessor Yasser Arafat in November last year.

Both Chirac and French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy are due to hold talks with Abbas on Monday before the Palestinian leader heads to Madrid for talks with Spanish Premier Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.

He should arrive in Washington on Wednesday ahead of his second meeting with Bush since his election as Palestinian Authority president in January. Abbas met with Bush in May. The U.S. president had boycotted Arafat. - Agencies