ABBAS IN CAIRO TO PUSH FOR RECONCILIATION WITH HAMAS
Cairo, 7 Muharram 1435/11 November 2013 (MINA) – Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Cairo to push for salvage hopes of factional reconciliation, a source at the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo told Egypt Independent.
The Palestinian leader arrived in the Egyptian capital on Saturday to discuss floundering reconciliation attempts with Hamas as well as negotiation with Israel, according to state-run Palestinian news agency Wafa.
He was scheduled to meet with interim President Adly Mansour, army chief and Defense Minister General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawy during the three-day stay.
“We the Palestinian people believe that Egypt plays an important regional role in achieving peace in the Middle East, which helps the Palestinian people in achieve their aspirations of establishing a Palestinian state,” a diplomatic source told Egypt Independent on Sunday as quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).
“This visit comes in line with strengthening already cordial relations and mutual cooperation between Palestine and Egypt,” he added.
In his second visit after Egypt military coup in Egypt the source stated that Egypt always play important role for both sides. “Egypt has always played a vital role [in reconciliation] and we’re sure they will continue in bringing an effective role,” the source said.
“Egypt is the main supporter of the Palestinian cause, as well as the Palestinian people’s rights, so we believe their government will continue supporting us in every way,” he stressed.
Representatives from Palestine’s two main factions, Hamas and Fatah, met in Cairo in January, riding high on a wave of unifying rhetoric and national confidence after the November assault on the Gaza Strip.
A subsequent ceasefire mediated by Egypt’s then-president, Mohamed Morsy, was seen as a major foreign policy achievement for an administration struggling with an out-of-control economy, political unrest and growing opposition at home, the media added.
Shortly afterwards, the Palestinian Authority’s admission to the United Nations General Assembly left both sides more open to talks. Hamas and Fatah reciprocated goodwill gestures by allowing each group’s supporters to rally in the West Bank and Gaza respectively.
On 9 January Hamas political bureau leader Khaled Meshaal and Abbas met for talks, mediated by President Mohamed Morsy, in Cairo. They pledged to hold parliamentary and presidential elections across the Occupied Territories within three months, ending division with the creation of a national unity government. That has yet to become a reality. (T/P03/E1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
