Palestinian envoys head to Egypt for reconciliation talks

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

GAZA CITY (AFP) — Palestinian factions will send envoys to Egypt next week for talks aimed at ending months of bitter infighting, leaders and spokesmen for several groups said on Saturday.

Nafid Azzam, a senior leader in Islamic Jihad, said his movement would send a delegation from Gaza and another from Damascus to Cairo on Sunday for talks aimed at reconciliation between the Fatah movement and their Hamas rivals.

"We hope for good results so that we can have a wide-ranging dialogue that includes all the groups, including Fatah and Hamas, after Ramadan," Azzam said, referring to the Muslim holy month expected to start next week.

The two main Palestinian factions have been bitterly divided since June 2007, when Hamas seized power in Gaza after routing forces...