Palestinian factions, Egyptian intelligence officials meet in Cairo over Shalits deal and truce

Monday August 25, 2008 10:36 by Rula Shahwan - IMEMC News

Palestinian factions and Egyptian intelligence officials will meet in Cairo on Monday, to discuss the case of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and have a new round of truce talks, Media sources reported Monday morning.

File- 2008

The Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper reported that efforts are expected to be made to revive the contacts for the prisoners exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.

The main focus of the meetings will, reportedly, be resolving the crisis between the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas and strengthening the "truce" in the Gaza Strip.

Islamic Jihad representatives from the Gaza Strip and Syria will be the first Palestinian faction to meet with the Egyptians.

Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFPL) and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) representatives are expected to arrive in Cairo as well by next week.

Nearly two months ago both Israeli and Palestinian Resistance factions in Gaza agreed to a truce, as a result of Egyptian mediation efforts. The deal stipulates that Hamas will stop the firing of homemade shells into Israeli territory in exchange for Israel lifting the 12 month-blockade and ceasing all military attacks against the Coastal Region.

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