Abbas and Mash'al in Cairo; sources say two will not meet
Published today (updated) 05/09/2009 14:52
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=223634

Cairo - Ma'an - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Cairo Friday
for a two-day visit where he will meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
to discuss the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

In what is said to be a separate event, Hamas politburo Chief Khalid Mash'al
will arrive in Cairo Saturday to hold talks with head of the Egyptian
intelligence Omar Sulaiman over both Palestinian reconciliation and the
issue of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. According to senior Hamas
leader and PLC member Salah Bardaweil, however, Mash'al will not discuss the
Shalit file while in Cairo.

Abbas is expected to outline progress around peace talks made during his
tour of Europe, as well as prospects of a unity deal mediated by Egypt. His
spokesperson Nabil Abu Rdeina said the meeting between leaders would help
crystallize a joint Arab stance on freezing settlement construction and
prospects for the peace process, according to the official Palestinian
government news agency WAFA.

The presidential spokesperson said the coming weeks would be "crucial and
dangerous" since the US efforts to resume the peace process has so far been
"faced with Israeli stubbornness." He called on the US administration to
support Arab countries and international community in their efforts and
force Israel to abide by the basics of the peace process which US president
defined.

Abbas is being accompanied by Chief PLO Negotiator and member of the Fatah
Central Committee Saeb Erekat.

Palestinian sources ruled out the possibility that Abbas and Mashal will
meet.