The leaders of the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas were expected to arrive in the Egyptian capital Cairo Saturday evening for talks, newspaper reports said Saturday, according to DPA. Egyptian leaders intend to hold preparatory bilateral talks with each faction separately ahead of a planned meeting that should bring together Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad, The Democratic Front and The National Front. The talks come after a spiral of violence between Hamas and Fatah reignited with full force breaking a six-month ceasefire. The infighting brought to a standstill many unresolved issues, including a planned Arab-Israeli prisoner swap, negotiations on forming a Palestinian state and peace talks with Israel. Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abul-Gheit had told the press on Friday that "when Egypt calls on Hamas and Fatah to convene in Cairo, the country must be certain that the (factions) will carry out what is agreed upon."
