Palestinian Factions in Cairo to Take Part in National Dialogue

  Palestinian delegations representing different factions arrived in Cairo on Sunday. The two-day talks are held under the patronage of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. Leaders of 14 Palestinian factions, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Movement, the Hamas Movement and the Islamic Jihad are scheduled to convene in Cairo to discuss the arrangements for holding the elections in Palestine. Cairo aims to ensure smooth Palestinian legislative and presidential elections on 22 May and 31 July, respectively, as well as the Palestinian National Council election on 31 August. This will be the first legislative elections to take place in Palestine since 2006, and first presidential election since 2007. Palestine has witnessed a political division when the Hamas movement illegally seized control of Gaza Strip, kicking out the Fatah movement in 2007, and prevented any elections. Last month, Chief of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service (GIS), Abbas Kamel, travelled to Palestine’s Ramallah city, during which he conveyed a message from Sisi to Abbas. The message confirmed Egypt’s position towards the Palestinian cause and to “reach a just solution” to the issue, as well as its “keenness to intensify its efforts to contribute to the success of the Palestinian electoral process,” Egyptian media reported. Source: Agencies