Jerusalem ? Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Saturday welcomed the resumption of high-level contacts with Israel, even though he has not been allowed to take part in them.

Israeli sources disclosed Friday that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had met two days earlier with Ahmed Korei, the speaker of the Palestinian Parliament, and that other such talks had taken place before Israel’s Jan. 28 general election.

But senior Palestinian officials played down the significance of these discussions, saying they were limited in scope. The officials also expressed disappointment that there would be no movement on a U.S.-backed proposal to relaunch peace talks until after Sharon forms a new government, which could take up to six weeks.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat pauses during a meeting with Palestinian schoolchildren in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Saturday, he welcomed resumption of high-level talks between Palestinians and Israel, though he has not taken part in them.

News of the talks was the first sign in many months of any possible rapprochement between Israel and the Palestinians. Each side blames the other for the last 2 1/2 years of bloodshed, which have claimed more than 700 Israeli lives and left at least 1,800 Palestinians dead.

Israeli media reports suggested that the disclosure of the discussions could have been an effort to bolster Sharon’s image as he tries to lure the left-leaning Labor Party into a governing coalition with his hard-line Likud. So far, Labor has refused.

Arafat, speaking to reporters at his compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, said the Palestinians are willing to talk with anyone who could help restart negotiations.

“We are ready for any talks as long as this might lead us to peace,” he said.

Israel refuses to have any contact with Arafat himself, blaming him for fomenting violence. Sharon has said there are no prospects of peace until the Palestinian Authority president is removed from power.

Sources on both sides said Sharon met for about two hours Wednesday with Korei, who is also known as Abu Ala. He is considered a moderate.