Egypt is pressing ahead with intensive diplomatic efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation through a series of meetings with the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Egyptian city of El Alamein, a day after an Egyptian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that preparations were underway for a Palestinian national dialogue. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty received Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh in El Alamein, Palestinian National Council President Rawhi Fattouh and Fatah Central Committee member and Palestinian intelligence chief Majed Faraj as part of continuing consultations on developments in the Palestinian Territories and efforts to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. The meeting addressed efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation, restore Palestinian unity and continue the ongoing political reform process. The officials also discussed the “catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip resulting from the inhumane Israeli practices”, as well as the need for the international community to pressure Israel to fulfill its obligations under US President Donald Trump’s peace plan. These include allowing humanitarian aid to flow unhindered and carrying out withdrawals from Gaza to pave the way for the PA to resume full responsibility for the enclave. The Egyptian statement quoted al-Sheikh as praising Cairo’s efforts and contacts to halt escalation, advance implementation of the peace plan and support the PA. He stressed the importance of maintaining close coordination and consultations with Egypt in the coming period. On Sunday evening, Egyptian General Intelligence Service chief Hassan Rashad received a PA delegation headed by al-Sheikh and including Fattouh and Faraj as part of Cairo’s efforts to promote Palestinian unity. The talks covered developments in the West Bank and upcoming Palestinian elections. They agreed to coordinate national efforts to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause, according to Egypt’s official news agency. In a related development, an informed Palestinian source told Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that Egypt was engaged in intensive contacts with the PA and factions aimed at unifying Palestinian ranks. The source stressed that Cairo’s efforts to arrange a meeting between Fatah and Hamas in Egypt were continuing. Three Hamas sources said Monday that the movement had been informed that Fatah had canceled a meeting scheduled to take place in El Alamein to discuss several issues, foremost among them legislative elections set for November 28. The three sources separately told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egypt had arranged the bilateral meeting for Monday, but it was canceled at Fatah’s request. They offered no explanation for the cancellation. Efforts to reconcile the Palestinian factions have been pursued for years, with Cairo sponsoring several rounds of talks that failed to produce a final agreement. Hamas is now moving toward an alliance with Palestinian politician Mohammed Dahlan, who previously broke with Fatah, ahead of the elections. On Monday, an informed Egyptian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egypt was preparing for an intra-Palestinian dialogue that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas could attend.
