Palestinian leaders have agreed to increase security on the West Bank and Gaza Strip as Yasser Arafat remains in a critical condition in a Paris hospital.

Officials at a security meeting Sunday agreed to increase patrols and provide more security for Palestinian institutions and officials.

After the meeting, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat says the security meetings' goal is to keep peace and national unity while Arafat is hospitalized.

Palestinian Prime Minister, Ahmed Qureia, who headed the meeting, says it may be the first of its kind to safeguard internal stability in Palestine.