Egypt to open Rafah crossing for Fatah members to join anti-Abbas conference

Egyptian authorities have promised ousted senior Fatah leader Mohamed Dahlan that they will open the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza to allow opponents of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to join a conference in the Egyptian city of Al-Arish, the Assabeel newspaper reported yesterday.

Sources in the Palestinian Authority (PA) embassy in Cairo reported to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the arrangement for Dahlan’s conference are actively proceeding.

According to the sources, Fatah members loyal to Dahlan invited many Arab and diplomatic personalities based in Cairo under the name of a research centre affiliated to the Egyptian intelligence services.

The conference was due to be held at the end of last month, but it was put off to allow for Egyptian efforts to bring Dahlan and Abbas together.

However, sources in the Egyptian foreign ministry revealed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Egypt gave up due to Abbas’ strong rejection of any reconciliation with Dahlan.

Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported sources as saying that Abbas rejected a meeting with Dahlan’s representatives when he was in Cairo two months ago, noting that Egyptian authorities failed to persuade Abbas to bridge the gap with Dahlan.