Egyptian FM calls for closing ranks among Palestinian factions

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said Thursday that closing ranks among the Palestinian factions is the only option to get Israel to adhere to its commitments and halt its continued aggression against the Palestinians. Abul Gheit made the expression during a meeting with visiting Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) Secretary General Nayef Hawatmeh, said an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement.

During the talks, Abul Gheit expressed Egypt's support to the Palestinian cause, noting that talks with the various Palestinian factions that were hosted by Egypt in Cairo aimed at helping the Palestinians overcome their differences and close ranks in a bid to contain the situation.

Since late last month, Egypt has been engaged in intensive separate contacts with five Palestinian faction groups of Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad (Holy War), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the DFLP in Cairo.

The foreign minister said Egypt hopes that the feuding Palestinian factions would reach a ceasefire.

He also underlined the importance of seeking a Palestinian- Israeli truce for the Israeli side to take positive measures to improve the Palestinians' living conditions, asserting that such positive steps would pave the way for a final Palestinian-Israeli settlement.

Hawatmeh agreed with Egypt on ideas to reach a Palestinian reconciliation, noting that the talks held between his movement and the Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman led to a common understanding on the need to end infighting and draw up practical mechanisms to prevent its renewal.

Hawatmeh, who also met Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on Thursday, stressed the importance that the Palestinian-Israeli truce be comprehensive.

He reiterated a call for a halt to Israeli hostilities in Gaza Strip and the West Bank and for more efforts to re-launch serious political negotiations.

He also called for the establishment of mechanisms that can put the Palestinian parliament in order on the basis of new democratic elections in which all Palestinians can participate and are fairly represented.

Source: Xinhua