The Palestinian leader, Mr Yasser Arafat, met EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana this evening in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Solana had earlier said after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres that Arafat should have "total freedom of movement" as soon as possible.
"I don't think it is a wise decision to give him half movement," he said, after the Israeli cabinet's decision on Sunday to ease but not lift the blockade imposed on Arafat since early December.
"He has to have full freedom - it is important for him to do his job, from my point of view," Solana told reporters.
"The sooner he has freedom of movement, the better."
Israel has said its decision to allow Arafat to leave his compound but not the West Bank town of Ramallah was a goodwill gesture, although it angered the Palestinian Authority.
The Palestinians suspended security talks with the Jewish state aimed at stemming violence.
Solana arrived in Israel late last night to start a five-day tour of the Middle East in a bid to ease the tension and violence in the region. His visit will take in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt and Jordan.
AFP