Report: Abbas wants Turkey to spearhead Palestinian reconciliation efforts

[Jefferson23]

Shift from Egypt to Turkey reflects increasingly distant relations between Cairo and Ramallah, Palestinian sources tell Al-Aharam.

By Jack Khoury | Apr.22, 2013 | 2:53 PM

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he wants Ankara to spearhead Palestinian reconciliation efforts between rival groups Fatah and Hamas, according to a report Monday in Al-Ahram.

The report, which is based on Palestinian sources, said such a request marks a turning point for Abbas and the Palestinian Authority which, until now, had entrusted the issue of reconciliation entirely to Egypt. Egyptian officials are not expected to oppose such a move, though they will likely want to be involved in talks between the factions.

Palestinian officials said this new position stems from the increasingly distant relations between Cairo and Ramallah and from the belief among Fatah officials that high-ranking officials in Cairo said Abbas and his faction were harming reconciliation efforts.

The report said Abbas does not intend to close the door on Egypt, but he prefers to introduce new players in an attempt to advance unity talks. Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian National Council, explicitly said that one of the goals of Abbas’ visit to Ankara was to use Turkey's regional status and influence to advance the reconciliation.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/report-abbas-wants-turkey-to-spearhead-palestinian-reconciliation-efforts.premium-1.516914#

[oberliner]

1. Good?

Good, bad, or indifferent?

[azurnoir]

2. Interesting

Turkey may be able to succeed where Egypt alone failed, but what could also develop is Turkey will represent the PLO/PA and Egypt will represent Hamas