European Union foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana will urge Israelis and Palestinians to build a durable ceasefire and resume peace talks when he visits the Middle East next week.
"He is going with two aims - to promote a consolidation of the ceasefire and to encourage a renewal of dialogue between the two sides," EU spokeswoman Ms Cristina Gallach said.
She said Mr Solana would arrive in Israel on Sunday evening and meet Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Mr Shimon Peres on Monday.
He would then hold talks with Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat and other senior Palestinian officials before heading to Jordan.
Earlier this week, the EU said it brokered a deal under which Israel withdrew its forces from the West Bank town of Beit Jala, which they had occupied for two days, while Palestinian gunmen agreed to stop firing at a nearby Jewish settlement.
Following the deal, hopes rose for possible truce talks between Mr Peres and Mr Arafat in Paris early next week.
At least 547 Palestinians and 157 Israelis have been killed since the Palestinian uprising erupted last September after peace talks stalled.