RAMALLAH Ñ The Palestinian Authority is preparing to resume
reconciliation talks with the Islamic opposition this weekend in Cairo.
The European Union and Egypt have helped arrange the meeting.
Officials said the meetings will focus on the future of the Israeli-Palestinian
war and will include senior members of the ruling Fatah movement and Hamas.
Hamas has ignored PA calls to limit attacks on Israeli targets in the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported.
Fatah leaders have argued that suicide
missions in Israel have hurt Palestinian interests and led to allegations
that the PA encourages terrorism.
Officials said the PA wants to suspend suicide bombings in Israel during
its election campaign. They said the continuation of such attacks would
ensure a victory by the Likud.
"Our strategy is clear Ñ to triumph," PA Interior Minister Hani Al
Hassan said. "We are about to inherit all of what was built on our land."
Over the
last few months, EU officials urged Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip, Jordan
and Syria to end suicide bombings in Israel, a request rejected by the
Islamic opposition movement. Egypt and Jordan have also pressed the PA to
suspend attacks during the Israeli election campaign.
The Fatah delegation comprises leading members of the PA including
Mohammed Rashid, the financial adviser of PA Chairman Yasser Arafat, Ahmed
Ghneim, Zakaria Al Agha and Samir Mahouri. The Hamas delegation is composed
largely of its foreign-based leadership, including its political chief
Khaled
Mashaal, Imad Alami, Osama Hamdan and Mussa Abu Marzouk.
Officials said the delegations will also discuss the Hamas assassination
of PA riot police commander Col. Rajah Abu Lahiya in October. Hamas has
refused to surrender those responsible for the killing.
