Bethlehem-Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mousa will meet with President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday in Egypt for discussions on Palestinian unity. The meeting, set for the Egyptian resort town of Sharm Ash-Sheikh, follows Moussa's 12-hour trip to Gaza on Sunday, where he met with Hamas officials and toured the coastal enclave for the first time since he took the Arab League post. During his visit, Moussa advised Hamas to sign the Egyptian unity document. "Do not worry about a word here or there," he said in a final news conference about Hamas concerns over details of the proposal. Saudi newspaper Ukath quoted Arab League sources as confirming that Moussa would not present new suggestions to Fatah or Hamas officials, but rather try to build on Egypt's already prepared unity document, already supported by Arab states. The deal, the sources said, would help Arab states work to have Israel's siege lifted from the Gaza Strip. Hamas' spokesperson Mushir Al-Masri told the Saudi newspaper that Moussa's visit to Gaza was a "major step towards lifting the siege and achieving Palestinian unity.” He reiterated that Hamas wished to end rivalry and ease the suffering of the Palestinian people.
