JERUSALEM, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Middle East envoy Tony Blair plans to announce on Monday projects designed to bolster the Palestinian economy, including one in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Western and Palestinian officials said.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Sunday the projects were meant to quickly create jobs and economic activity.

Israel has tightened its economic and military cordon around Gaza and its 1.5 million residents since Hamas Islamists seized control of the territory in June.

Blair's announcement comes a week ahead of a U.S.-sponsored peace conference meant to launch long-stalled talks on Palestinian statehood and bolster President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah faction dominates the occupied West Bank.

In addition to a sewage project in the Gaza Strip, the projects are expected to include a trade corridor in the West Bank town of Jericho and checkpoint changes to make it easier for tourists to visit the West Bank city of Bethlehem and its Christian holy sites.

A major industrial area in Hebron is designed to create jobs, said Mayor Khaled Oseily. "The project will be one that will create opportunities," Oseily said, adding that Blair promised to find international donors.

Speaking to reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Blair said he, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak would launch a set of projects "designed to give people a sense that some things can change on the ground".

Blair offered no specifics and his spokesman declined to comment. (Reporting by Adam Entous in Jerusalem, Wafa Amr in Ramallah and Haitham Tamimi in Hebron; Writing by Adam Entous; Editing by Alison Williams)

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