RAMALLAH, West Bank — Several developments over the past few months can explain the lukewarm bilateral relations between Palestine and Egypt. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refused to defer to pressure from the Arab Quartet (Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia) to achieve an internal reconciliation in Fatah that would have allowed for the return of those dismissed from the movement, most notably Mohammed Dahlan.

Abbas announced on several occasions his rejection of any interference in Palestinian affairs. In a speech at Fatah's seventh congress on Nov. 30, Abbas said, “We confirm our categorical rejection of any interference in our internal affairs and preserve our national and independent decision,” thus reaffirming statements he had made in September that "no one can dictate positions or decisions to us.”

“We make and implement our own decisions, and no one can exercise any power over us,” he added.

Abbas' statements were reportedly aimed at Egypt, given the latter’s close relationship with Dahlan. This prompted the Egyptian Youm7 newspaper to fiercely attack Abbas in September and even accuse him of “political dementia and dancing on the bodies of Palestinians.”