A Palestinian official says an Israeli envoy will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to submit a letter regarding the possibility of substantive talks, The Associated Press reported.

The modest exchange is the highest-level communication between the two sides since exploratory contact collapsed four months ago.

The official says that Yitzhak Molcho, a representative of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will meet Abbas on Saturday, May 12 evening in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The official spoke anonymously, citing the issue's sensitivity.

Molcho's letter is a response to a note that Palestinian negotiators gave to Netanyahu last month clarifying their positions if talks were to resume.