Arafat, Hawatameh to meet in Cairo this month

A member of the political bureau of the opposition Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine at its headquarters in Damascus, Nayef El-Samerai, announced that Palestinain President Yasser Arafat is due to meet with DFLP leader Nayef Hawatameh in Cairo on August 22.

El-Samerai said the meeting between Arafat and Hawatameh comes in light of reconciliation and dialogue between the Palestinian factions, adding that reconciliation is necessary at the current time because the Palestinian Authority is near the start of final status negotiations, including critical issues such as borders Jerusalem, the refugees and settlements.

El-Samerai added that Farouk Qaddoumi, the head of the political department of the PLO, will take part in the meeting between Arafat and Hawatameh.