Mash'al: Egypt wants unity deal signed in October

September 28, 2009

Bethlehem – Ma'an – Hamas' senior-most political leader Khalid Mash’al sounded a hopeful note on Palestinian unity on Monday, saying that Egypt aims to seal a deal next month.

Mash'al said that Egyptian mediators are inviting all the political factions to a summit where they hope a unity agreement will be signed.

Mash’al, who lives in exile in Damascus, was speaking at a Cairo news conference after meeting with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Sulaiman.

"It was an extremely positive meeting and we discussed various and basic aspects regarding reconciliation," Mesh’al said of the talks. "We tackled many issues pertaining to this proposal and we think this proposal is a good basis to achieve Palestinian reconciliation."

"We extend our hands to our Fatah brothers and all the factions for reconciliation," he was also quoted as saying.

He also explained why Hamas did not respond in writing to Egypt’s latest proposal for unity.

"We didn’t write a written paper but we were keen to come to Cairo to confirm our position in support to the reconciliation agreement and to end the state of division," he said.

He also condemned Sunday’s Israeli settler intrusion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. In addition he called on Arab and Muslim states to help defend Jerusalem. He also demanded that the Palestinian Authority cease security coordination with Israel.

The last Hamas-Fatah unity government was dissolved in June 2007 when Hamas, the victor in parliamentary elections, took full control of the Gaza Strip. Egypt has mediated several fruitless rounds of unity talks over the past year.