Mubarak phones Arafat, Qurei' to close Palestinian ranks
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 9/13/2004

President Hosni Mubarak phoned Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei' urging them to set their differences aside and unite Palestinian ranks, said Presidential Spokesman Maged Abdel Fattah.

In comments Saturday on reports about an imminent resignation by Qurei', Abdel Fattah said Mubarak urged Arafat, during a telephone conversation late Thursday, to allow Qurei real powers and set in place a clear mechanism for continued coordination and consultation.

On Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom's claims that the expulsion of Arafat was nearing, Abdel Fattah said not all Israeli media reports should be believed.

When "we" talk about a pullout from Gaza, we mean it has to be done within the framework of the Roadmap Plan, otherwise it "would not be welcome," said the spokesman.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit and Minister Omar Suleiman will visit Israel after the Jewish feasts next week, he added.

He denied a freeze in inter-Palestinian dialogue, noting that a number of Palestinian factions would meet in Cairo today (Sunday) to launch a genuine discourse. The dialogue is continuing and involves Palestinian factions including Hamas, Jihad, Fatah and Al-Aqsa Brigades, he added.

Egypt's talks with these factions are based on linking any progress in the political process with the activities of these factions and movements, he remarked.

Abul-Gheit met on Saturday with Arab Israeli MP Mohamed Baraka for talks on the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Baraka said the meeting was friendly with the two sides seeing eye-to-eye on all points discussed.

Means to secure control of areas of the Gaza Strip after a possible Israeli withdrawal also came up at the meeting.

"If Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon lives up to his plan and withdraws from the Strip, we hope to then create an atmosphere convincing the Israelis and the international community to place trust in the peace process and to push for more similar pullouts from the occupied Palestinian areas," Baraka said.

Palestinian sources said the Israeli withdrawal came following security talks between Palestinian and security officers, adding that Israel would also withdraw from most of northern Gaza.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt interferes to solve the difference between Arafat, Qurei'   (9/9/2004)
  Abul-Gheit Suleiman probe with Arafat Egyptian initiative to secure Gaza strip   (9/7/2004)
  The Egyptian delegation and peace efforts between the Palestinians, Israel   (9/7/2004)

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