As part of efforts to ease tensions that recently sparked a spiral of violence between rival Palestinian parties Hamas and Fatah, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa met with the deputy to the Palestinian prime minister and other Fatah representatives in Cairo on Sunday.

Azzam al-Ahmed, deputy to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and close aide to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, issued a statement to the press saying, "we want to protect the national unity government and the Mecca agreement."

"[We want to] unite all efforts between all Palestinian factions towards fighting Israeli aggression," he added.

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According to sources from both sides, the talks focused on bolstering a ceasefire between Fatah and Hamas.

The aggressive infighting between the two power-sharing forces had brought to a standstill many unresolved issues, including a planned prisoner swap between the Palestinians and Israel, negotiations on forming a Palestinian state and peace talks with Israel.

Al-Ahmed, nevertheless, said on Sunday that discussions on reorganizing the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) have not stopped.

"Perhaps the Higher Council will meet soon in Cairo to restructure the National Palestinian Council" and in turn the PLO, which should be inclusive of Fatah and Hamas, he said.

During the press conference that followed their talks, Moussa said that the violence in the Palestinian territories is a result of the "Israeli occupation."

Al-Ahmed added that "Israel is indeed a side [of the situation] and any sides in the Middle East have an influence on the Palestinian arena."

A delegation of Fatah representatives led by Rowhi Fattouh, Abbas' personal envoy, had arrived in Cairo Saturday evening. Leaders of the Hamas party were expected in Cairo this week for similar talks.

The Cairo discussions are part of preparatory bilateral talks that Egyptian leaders intend to hold with each faction separately ahead of a planned meeting that should bring together Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad, the Democratic Front and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Meanwhile, Al-Ahmed said Sunday that the Fatah representatives currently in Cairo do not intend to meet with the Hamas representatives scheduled to arrive in Cairo this week, insisting the talks will occur strictly between each faction and the Egyptian leadership.

The exact date and venue of the planned inclusive meeting that is expected to bring all parties together has not yet been disclosed.

Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abul-Gheit earlier told the press that "when Egypt calls on Hamas and Fatah to convene in Cairo, the country must be certain that the [factions] will carry out what is agreed upon. '


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