RAMALLAH, West Bank, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- The Supreme Council of the Egyptian army, the country's interim government, plans to hold its first talks with the Palestinian Authority.
A Palestinian official said a delegation, headed by Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim, a senior intelligence officer, is scheduled to visit Ramallah this week, The Jerusalem Post reported. The talks are expected to focus on efforts to end the breach between Fatah, which is in charge in the West Bank, and Hamas, which runs Gaza, and on peace talks with Israel.
Egypt, which recognized Israel more than 30 years ago, was heavily involved in negotiations while Hosni Mubarak was still president. Nabil Amr, a former Palestinian Authority minister, said the West Bank leadership is worried about what his ouster will mean for the future.
"The Mubarak regime was a close ally of the Palestinian leadership and President Mahmoud Abbas," Amr said. "But now the Palestinian Authority is cautious because the Egyptians are preoccupied with internal problems and don't have time for Palestinian reconciliation."
