Last update - 00:00 14/11/2006
Abbas, Quartet officials arrive in Cairo for talks on peace process
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service
CAIRO, Egypt - Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and representatives of the so-called "Quartet" of peacemakers - the U.S., European Union, Russia and UN - arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, ahead of a Wednesday meeting of the Quartet on how to relaunch the long-stalled peace process.
But Hamas cast a shadow over developments when it reiterated it would not recognize Israel.
Abbas met the U.S. envoy, Assistant Secretary of State David Welch, on Tuesday night.
President George W. Bush called Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday and discussed the "situation in the Palestinian territories," Egypt's semi-official Middle East News Agency reported.
A senior Arab League official on Tuesday criticized the Quartet of Mideast peacemakers for failing to promote peace between the Arabs and Israel.
"Regrettably, it has failed to play any role and was prevented from advancing the peace process," said Ben Heli.
Ben Heli, the undersecretary-general of the Cairo-based league, said the "Quartet's failure to stand up to the Israeli attempts to abort all peace initiatives" was part of the reason it has failed to bring peace to the region.
On Sunday, Arab foreign ministers called for a multilateral conference to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a meeting that was also attended by Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, of Hamas.
The ministers, including Zahar, said the conference should work for a settlement based on the principle of "land for peace."
The endorsement by Zahar marked the first time Hamas has indicated it would consider making amends with Israel. Hamas has consistently refused to recognize Israel and renounce violence against its inhabitants.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in an interview with the Palestinian daily al-Quds he would be willing to talk to Hamas if it accepts the conditions presented by the international community.
Egyptian diplomats said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch will attend Wednesday's meeting along with senior diplomats from Russia, the United Nations and the European Union.
They said they will be trying to prepare for a meeting later this month in Jordan which will bring top Quartet officials together for further discussions.