"We are trying to reach agreement at Erez on the exact site for the joint Israeli-Palestinian liaison office" which will oversee the running of the passage, said Palestinian negotiator Sufian Abu Zaydah.

"Further talks are planned this evening in Jerusalem to settle various other technical problems, in particular the issue of foreigners who want to use the safe pas sage," he said.

Under last month's Sharm el-Sheikh peace agreement, the passage was supposed to open on October 1, but the opening date has been repeatedly pushed back due to unresolved technical problems.

"We have not received the magnetic cards yet so it will be impossible to use the passage in the morning," Abu Zaida told AFP on Saturday dashing hopes it would open on Sunday.