Abbas orders the release of 200 political prisoners
Maan added that Abbas told Egyptian security officials who visited Ramallah recently that “Fateh movement agrees to all of the demands of Hamas under the condition that Hamas agrees to presidential and legislative elections in 2010”.
The statements of Abbas surprised the Egyptian team who immediately headed to Damascus to hold talks with Hamas’ political bureau leader, Khalid Mashal, to listen to his response.
For full article, visit http://www.imemc.org/article/61460
Hamas: Fatah raids disrupting talks
“What is happening in the West Bank cannot be accepted,” Khaled Meshaal said on Tuesday after meeting Omar Suleiman, the Egyptian intelligence chief.
“We will pursue our policy in co-operating with the Egyptian efforts to reach a real reconciliation, but the most difficult obstacle hampering reaching a Palestinian reconciliation is what is happening in the West Bank,” he said.
Meshaal’s comments to the Cairo-based Arab League came after raids were launched across the Israeli-occupied territory by Fatah, led by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president.
For full article, visit http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200969204138605884.html
Rafah crossing officials admit “mistakes were made” during last opening
The crossing authorities sent a statement on Thursday, following the April 17-18 opening for patients, students and passport holders. Following the opening accusations were made that privilege was given to Hamas-affiliated individuals and that others were denied permission to leave based on political affiliation.
For full article, visit http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37337
Report: Egypt threatening to step down as Hamas-Fatah broker
Egypt has threatened to withdraw its sponsorship of Palestinian unity negotiations if rival parties Hamas and Fatah do not reach an agreement soon, an Egyptian newspaper reported on Thursday.
According to the newspaper Al-Masryoun, if no agreement is reached before the end of May, Cairo will no longer play the role of broker in the unity talks.
For full article, visit http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=37322
Stranded patients, frustrated medical workers protest Rafah closure
Egypt insists that it will only open the crossing if Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reach an agreement to operate the crossing in accordance with the 2005 agreement.
The demonstrators waved flags and held banners of “we call on Egypt to save our lives,” “we call on all parties to avoid Rafah crossing from the political disputes,” “please help us to get our proper medical treatment.”
For full article, visit http://www.paltelegraph.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=561:gaza-patients-protest-as-death-chasing-them&catid=58:gaza-strip&Itemid=182
Local sources said people carried banners calling for Egypt to open the crossing and to keep it free of politics. The patients demanded that they be allowed to travel for treatment outside the Gaza Strip since the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza have left the hospitals there unable to treat many illnesses. According to the Department responsible for Borders and Crossings at least 700 Palestinian patients are waiting for the opening of the Rafah border crossing in order to access treatment outside the Strip.
Source: http://www.imemc.org/article/59984
Egypt confiscates fuel meant to be smuggled into Gaza
Egyptian sources reported on Tuesday that Egyptian border policemen located and confiscated 19.000 liters of fuel that were meant to be smuggled into the Gaza Strip via underground tunnels between Gaza and Egypt.
For full article, visit http://www.imemc.org/article/59949
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