Representatives of rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas will meet on Sunday in Cairo to discuss the implementation of the Egypt-brokered reconciliation pact signed in May, the Voice of Palestine Radio reported, quoting the head of the Fatah delegation Azzam Al-Ahmad.
Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation agreement on May 4 in Cairo, ending a four-year split that began when Hamas ousted Fatah forces from the Gaza Strip in 2007. Since then, Hamas has controlled Gaza, limiting Fatah's authority to the West Bank, RIA Novosti reported.
The sides have agreed to hold elections and form a national unity government. The reconciliation process has been hampered, however, by a number of disagreements between Hamas and Fatah, including a failure to reach a consensus on the candidacy of prime minister in the new government.
Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, a Fatah nominee for the top post in the unity government whose candidacy has been strongly opposed by Hamas, said in early December that he had no plans to head the new cabinet, nor would he run for president.
In mid-November, Hamas and Fatah agreed to hold elections in May 2012.
Continuing arrests of both movements' supporters in Gaza and the West Bank remain a major concern to be addressed during Sunday talks, the source said.
According to Palestinian human rights groups, some 200 Hamas and Fatah supporters are currently in jail in both Palestinian territories. Fatah has also accused Hamas of preventing 300 Fatah supporters from leaving Gaza.
Another concern for Hamas is the problem of Palestinian passports, which are currently issued only in the West Bank, the source said. The Islamist movement has demanded that the right to issue documents be also granted to authorities in Gaza.
Sunday's meeting will come the day after the Fatah leadership, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, met in Ramallah to discuss issues related to reconciliation with Hamas. Following the talks, Fatah spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said the issue of national reconciliation was the party's "strategic choice."