Fatah and Hamas will hold talks in Cairo, planning to overcome internal division and restore Palestinian national unity, in April, the interim Egyptian government said on Sunday. Hamas held preliminary talks with the SCAF last week, and PA President Abbas' two-day visit to Egypt is planned to start on Wednesday. “There's a consensus in Hamas about the need to move forward toward reconciliation with Fatah,” Hamas' Mohamed Zahar told reporters. The Cairo talks follow preliminary meetings between Hamas and Fatah representatives held in Gaza, the West Bank and Damascus, in the last few weeks. They will focus on Abbas's offer to travel to the Gaza Strip, on the establishment of a new government and unified political leadership, and on presidential and parliamentary elections. Fatah's officials were dispatched by Abbas to Cairo in recent weeks included Tayeb Abdel Rahim, Sakher Bsaiso, Nabil Sha'ath and Azzam al-Ahmed. Abbas held close relations with ousted President Hosni Mubarak. The two met in Sharm el-Sheikh just a few days before the popular uprising in Egypt began in early January, in order to discuss peace plans with Israel. Fatah member Nimer Hammad said that PA will ask the UN Security Council to recognize a state on the pre-1967 lines, in September. Abbas' visit to Cairo will also focus on possible scenarios facing the Palestinians if these demands were to be fulfilled. Egypt already hosted six-month talks between Palestinian political leaderships in 2009, leading to a draft pact to form a unitity government. Fatah signed the pact, but Hamas refrained, demanding international recognition. So far, Hamas has refused to recognize Israel, but leading figure Ismail Haniye recently called for a suspension of Palestinian attacks against them. Camp David agreement review possible Protesters met in Cairo last week to demonstrate against the sell of Egyptian oil and gas to Israel, following a ruling by Supreme Court that allowed such trade. According to the opponents of the ruling, Egypt might trade with Israel at prices lower than regional standards. Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil el-Araby declared yesterday that Camp David accord do not entitle Israel to any special treatment. Moreover, “any issue is negotiable,” he told Egyptian television. “If Israel described Hosni Mubarak as a ‘treasure' because he was not firm on some matters, then this no longer holds after the 25 January revolution,” he added. “Palestinians want peace, but Israel have not yet met their demands.” BM
