Fatah Delegation Arrives in Egypt to Discuss 'Reconciliation'

A Palestinian boy runs in front of a concrete wall on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Reuters file photo
A Palestinian boy runs in front of a concrete wall on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Reuters file photo
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Fatah Delegation Arrives in Egypt to Discuss 'Reconciliation'

A Palestinian boy runs in front of a concrete wall on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Reuters file photo
A Palestinian boy runs in front of a concrete wall on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Reuters file photo

A delegation from Fatah movement arrived in Cairo Sunday to meet Egyptian officials and Hamas members for reconciliation talks and discussions on the upcoming general elections.

Munir al-Jaghoub, who heads Fatah's Information Department in the Office of Mobilization and Organization, stated that the delegation arrived in Cairo to tackle the Palestinian reconciliation efforts and to discuss topics of mutual interest.

Fatah Secretary-General Jibril Rajoub headed the delegation.

Earlier, the two biggest Palestinian factions agreed to hold the elections in order to put an end to division.

Reliable sources told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the visit seeks to confirm Egypt’s position and significance as a partner in several issues.

It also seeks to discuss ties with the Palestinian Authority, noting that Egypt has been overseeing the reconciliation efforts for years.

Yet, for the first time, Qatar brokered this month an agreement for calm between Hamas and Fatah which for their part headed to Istanbul to announce the agreement.

In a related context, Egyptian authorities on Sunday reopened the Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip in both directions, for three days.

The head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Jamil Mizher, slammed bilateral talks between the two factions, saying an inclusive national dialogue is the only guarantee to end division.

But Hamas confirmed that this agreement is not an alternative to the national dialogue rather an introduction to it.

Hussam Badran, a Hamas official responsible for national ties, expressed the movement’s keenness to reach a comprehensive national agreement on various matters.

His statement meant to reassure all factions that the final agreement on elections will be made with all Palestinian factions, not only Fatah.



Cohen Meeting Escalates Protests in Western Libya Against Unity Government

Pro-Dbeibah government forces intervening to disperse protesters in central Tripoli (AFP)
Pro-Dbeibah government forces intervening to disperse protesters in central Tripoli (AFP)
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Cohen Meeting Escalates Protests in Western Libya Against Unity Government

Pro-Dbeibah government forces intervening to disperse protesters in central Tripoli (AFP)
Pro-Dbeibah government forces intervening to disperse protesters in central Tripoli (AFP)

Protests have intensified in western Libya against the interim Government of National Unity, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, following the revelation of a meeting between former Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush and then-Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Rome last year.

In response to the demonstrations, Dbeibah accused foreign nations of being “involved in conspiracies to divide the country” and alleged that domestic factions were “fueling the protests” that erupted in multiple cities across western Libya against his government.

While Dbeibah refrained from naming these local factions during a speech delivered on Friday at the conclusion of the Entrepreneurs Forum and General Gathering of Youth Hostel Members in Misrata, he accused them of “manipulating young people to create discord and drag Libya backward.” He stressed that these groups “only seek war, destruction, and corruption.”

Speaking of “real conspiracies to divide Libya,” Dbeibah pledged that the country would remain unified. He addressed the youth, saying: “You are the future. We need you to step forward and defend your nation. We will not accept a return to the logic of force after the February 17 Revolution, and we will not allow it.”

In eastern Libya, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Aguila Saleh, refrained from commenting on Dbeibah’s statements.

Saleh, however, emphasized that the solution to Libya’s political gridlock lies in holding “free and fair elections, with all sides committed to respecting the results.”

He pointed out that the House of Representatives had enacted electoral laws to facilitate this process and called for the formation of a unified government to steer Libya toward stability.

In remarks broadcast by his media office on Friday, Saleh asserted that he had “taken no actions aimed at excluding or marginalizing any party.” He pointed to the importance of national reconciliation for achieving peace and security and denied aligning with any external or international forces.

Saleh further urged support for the National Reconciliation Law as a vital step toward resolving disputes, stressing “the significance of the peaceful transfer of power.”

On Friday evening, protests erupted in Misrata, Dbeibah’s hometown, coinciding with his visit. Demonstrators expressed their rejection of what they perceived as normalization efforts with Israel and demanded Dbeibah’s resignation. In a statement, some Misrata residents condemned the meetings between his government and Israeli officials as a “grave betrayal.”