Is Abbas planning a Cabinet overhaul?
The timing of a small addition by President Mahmoud Abbas to the government of Rami al-Hamdallah is raising questions, particularly in terms of what this means for the ongoing negotiations for Palestinian reconciliation.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — The delegations of Palestinian factions, Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine returned to the Gaza Strip the evening of Aug. 19 from Cairo, where they held several meetings together and with Egyptian intelligence. Discussions focused on a long-term truce with Israel and on Palestinian internal reconciliation.
The delegations suspended their talks as the Rafah border crossing linking Egypt to the besieged Gaza Strip will be closed for six days for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday until Aug. 26. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told the Russian news agency Sputnik on Aug. 19 that meetings and talks will resume after the holiday with the participation of the Fatah movement.
On Aug. 14, Palestinian factions flocked to Cairo to discuss the Egyptian proposal on Palestinian internal reconciliation and a truce agreement with Israel.
On Aug. 2, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made a slight adjustment to the national consensus government. He appointed the official spokesman of the Palestinian Presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeina, as minister of information and deputy prime minister.
