Cairo broadens contacts for intra-Palestinian talks as dialogue standstill

Wednesday October 15, 2008 12:52 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

Cairo will broaden contacts for Palestinian national unity talks underway in the Egyptian capital, Palestinian media sources reported.

Fatah's logo, left, Hamas logo, right

According to the sources, the upcoming contacts will involve a number of Palestinian public figures who will arrive in Cairo in a few days time in order to hold discussions with Egyptian mediators.

Egypt's reason for such a move is to explore new ideas for a successful dialogue between the rival Hamas and Fatah parties in a bid to end current division, the sources said.

Among those to hold talks shortly in Cairo are religious dignitaries and local community leaders, in order to convince those negotiating over unity that the Palestinian higher national interests are the most significant.

Meanwhile, in the presence of Egyptian officials, the rival Fatah party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced Wednesday that it has not yet received an official invitation for a bilateral meeting with the Hamas party.

Ibrahim Abuelnajja, a Gaza-based Fatah leader who is taking part in the Cairo talks, opposed the idea of holding such a bilateral dialogue, arguing that any talks with Hamas should involve representatives of other Palestinian factions.

Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Fawzi Barhoum, was quoted by media outlets as commenting, "Hamas regards Fatah's rejection to a bilateral talk as a slam to Egyptian mediation efforts to restart a genuine dialogue leading to genuine intra-Palestinian conciliation.".

In February 2007, both parties jointly formed a national unity government following Saudi Arabian mediation. Four months later, fighting broke out, resulting in Hamas taking over Gaza and Fatah-loyal security services ousted from the Gaza Strip.

arab world | palestinian politics | news report rami at imemc dot org