ABBAS, SISI DISCUSS 'DETERIORATING' PALESTINIAN SITUATION

Photo: Ma'an Ners Agency — Photo: Ma’an Ners Agency

Kairo, 26 Muharram 1437/9 November 2015 (MINA) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday met his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in Cairo to discuss the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, Sisi’s spokesperson said.

Alaa Yousef said in a statement that Abbas and Sisi had agreed that all practices that “create more tension” should be halted, including the construction of Israel’s settlements, which are illegal under international law.

They agreed that an end to these practices could pave the way for the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The statement said that a comprehensive solution could help relieve tensions across the Middle East. Maan News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

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The two presidents also discussed ongoing activities on Egypt’s eastern borders, where the Egyptian army has helped maintain’s Israel’s crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian president told Abbas that activities there along the border were intended “to secure the borders,” and were being carried out in full coordination with the Palestinian Authority.

These activities “could never be meant to harm the Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip,” Sisi said, according to the statement.

The Egyptian president added that if the PA were to take control of the Gaza Strip — which is currently controlled by Hamas — it could improve living conditions in Gaza and allow for borders to operate “normally,” allowing the people of Gaza their daily needs.

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Egypt has very rarely opened the Rafah crossing into Gaza, while its army has destroyed hundreds of smuggling tunnels along the border.

The smuggling tunnels have served as a lifeline to the outside world for Gaza’s 1.8 million inhabitants since Israel began its military blockade in 2007.

Hamas has suffered poor relations with the Egyptian government ever since the democratically-elected Muslim Brotherhood, with whom they were closely allied, was thrown out of power in July 2013. (T/P002/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)