Al Bawaba sources have confirmed that contacts are ongoing between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and the various Palestinian parties in both Damascus and the Palestinian Territories in an attempt to bring them under the Fatah umbrella – or some form of a unified party.
The same source has also revealed that the negotiations have reached an advanced stage, especially with the PFLP’s general command.
Khaled Al Fahoum, head of the Coalition of Opposition Parties, told Al Bawaba that the current [Israeli] escalation against the Palestinians has pushed the Palestinian factions to unite.
According to observers, President Arafat has found it a matter of urgency to try and unite these factions in such a critical time; and also believe that this has come following President Bush's guarantees to Sharon in addition to Israel’s assassination attacks against Palestinian activists and leaders.
Fahoum confirmed that contacts are being made between Sa’eed Musa (Abu Mousa) head of the Fatah Al Intifada (the Fatah Uprising) group and President Arafat.
Meanwhile, Omar Humaidan - member of Hamas – has recently participated in an executive meeting of PLO members in Ramallah. Fahoum also added that meetings are taking place between Arafat and Ahmed Jibreel - secretary general of the PLFP’s general command.
Fahoum also spoke about the meetings that are taking place in Damascus between the various Palestinian factions and the Fatah.
“There have been meetings between Farouq Qaddumi [a prominent leader at Fatah] and both Abu Mousa and Abu Khaled Amleh – both of whom are active Fatah Al Intifada members – that have yielded positive results. We should be hearing about them very soon,” said Fahoum.
"Every thing is going smoothly and there are no major problems so far between the parties concerned. The delay in announcing anything is due to Hamas, who have not yet announced their position regarding any future relationship between the factions," Fahoum explained.
Egypt has been mediating between the Palestinian factions for along time now in order to bring about some form of unity amongst the factions and the PA. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
