Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz met with Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Yousef, but they failed to reach agreement on coordinating Israel’s planned pullout from the Gaza Strip this summer. Israel described the meeting as "difficult," saying the Palestinians did not offer a serious plan for maintaining law and order after the pullout, which is scheduled to begin on August 17. The Palestinians blamed Israel. "Israel showed no flexibility and put obstacles before any opportunity of reaching understandings," the Palestinian Interior Ministry said in a statement. "The Palestinian side left the meeting with one conclusion: Israel is interested in having chaos and instability in the Gaza Strip."