First Session of Fatah-Hamas Talks to Begin at Noon in Cairo

Ramallah, MINA – The first round in the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation talks will start at noon in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, Azzam al-Ahmad, member of Fatah Central Committee and head of its delegation to the reconciliation talks, said on Tuesday.

The main point on the meeting’s agenda that will be discussed is empowering the government to rule in the Gaza Strip, he told Voice of Palestine radio.

“We will review and assess what has been done and whether or not the indicators suggest that the government will be fully empowered in all ministries in accordance with the law,” he said, pointing that the results so far, according to the government, have been positive.

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“In the coming days, however, we will be able to make our final judgment on the practical steps and the start of the work of various ministries,” he added.

Ahmad said the meeting will go over the 2011 Cairo agreement and the steps needed to hold a meeting for the various political factions, which are supposed to convene in Cairo after 20 days to discuss the practical steps for its implementation.

He said that the issue of border crossings with both Israel and Egypt has been discussed and that steps must be taken quickly on the ground, explaining that Hamas’ security forces are currently in control of the crossings, which should be the job of the government and therefore must be resolved within a week or two.

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As for the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, Ahmad said that there’s an agreement that was signed in 2005 regarding the Palestinian side of the crossing which says that the presidential guards must be present and in charge of the security, in addition to European police officers who will help in monitoring movement at the crossing.

He added that topics such as elections, security, the justice system and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) will also be discussed in Cairo.

He said the issue of peace and war and the forms of resistance should be a national decision, not factional, and everyone should abide by it.

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The Fatah and Hamas delegations arrived in Cairo on Monday to begin reconciliation talks under the sponsorship of the Egyptian authorities. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)