Egypt cancels Fatah visit for duration of Hamas talks

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, during a meeting between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo, Egypt [Osama Hamamm/Apaimages]

Egypt has cancelled a planned visit by a delegation from the secular Fatah movement which would have coincided with an official visit by Hamas to Cairo for talks about mutual relations, local sources revealed to Quds Press on Tuesday.

The Cairo-Hamas meeting will also look at issues related to easing the situation in the besieged Gaza Strip. According to the anonymous Egyptian sources, the Fatah delegation led by Azzam Al-Ahmad planned to ensure that the talks between Hamas and the government in Cairo are restricted to the Palestinian reconciliation issue.

They explained that reconciliation is not intended to be the main topic of the talks with Hamas during the nine-day visit.

“Fatah wants to undermine any meeting between Hamas and reformist Fatah leaders led by Mohamed Dahlan,” the sources added.

Pressure is being put on Hamas by Fatah to accept the Palestinian Authority’s conditions for reconciliation.

Former Fatah official Dahlan, who is described by his followers as the leader of Fatah reformists, enjoys good relations with the Egyptian authorities and many other regional powers.

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