Palestinian factions head to Egypt for national dialogue

Gaza (Palestine), February 8: The delegations of various Palestinian political factions headed to Egypt's capital Cairo on Sunday for the intra-Palestinian national dialogue.
Witnesses said the delegations of the Palestinian factions, including Hamas, ruler of the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJM), crossed the Rafah Border Crossing which has been exceptionally opened for them.
The delegations of 14 factions will arrive in Cairo from the West Bank, Gaza Strip and other locations for the dialogue, according to a Palestinian source who declined to be named.
"The talks do not promise to be easy," the source said.
"There are some controversial issues such as the role of the constitutional court and the mechanism that will form the election court, as well as the steps required to be taken to prepare for the elections," the source added.
The dialogue, scheduled to start on Monday, is supposed to discuss the political and technical issues related to holding the legislative elections on May 22, the presidential elections on July 31, and elections for the Palestinian National Council on Aug. 31.
The last presidential elections were held in March 2005 and the legislative elections in January 2006.
Last month, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued decrees for holding legislative and presidential elections, while the elections law was amended to allow only proportional elections through political lists (district elections excluded).
Hazem Qassem, a spokesman of Hamas, said in a press statement that the dialogue between the Palestinian factions aims at outlining strategic plans for the upcoming elections, adding Hamas will accept the results of the general elections.
"This time around, the situation seems to be different due to the fact that the factions have agreed to neutralize any party that might have disrupted the election process," he noted, referring to previous failures to make a breakthrough in negotiation.
Khaled al-Batsh, a senior leader of PIJM, told reporters in Gaza before departure that the dialogue will focus on how to take the first step to end the decade-long internal divisions.
"We must adhere to achieving national partnership and agreeing on a unified political program as a comprehensive national reference, as well as rebuilding the Palestinian Liberation Organization," he said.
Source:Xinhua