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Inter-Palestinian dialogue "to begin in Cairo next Wednesday"

Israel Materials 21 February 2009 18:42 (UTC +04:00)

An inter-Palestinian reconciliation dialogue between the rival Fatah and Hamas movements will begin in Cairo next Wednesday, a senior Palestinian official said Saturday, dpa reported.

Azzam al-Ahmed, head of the Fatah bloc in the Palestinian parliament, told reporters his movement had received an official invitation from Egypt to join the dialogue.

The Gaza-based Ramattan news agency also quoted an Egyptian Foreign Ministry official as saying Cairo had issued invitations to the Palestinian factions.

Hamas took over control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, while the West Bank remains administrated by President Mahmoud Abbas and his Palestinian Authority.

"We hope that this time, we will be able to reach an agreement to end the status of split between Gaza Strip and the West Bank, form a national unity government and prepare for presidential and legislative elections," said al-Ahmed.

Hamas has persistently demanded that Abbas stop cracking down on the movement in the West Bank. Abbas has rejected the demand and said all differences can be resolved through the dialogue.

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