Egypt draws up plan to end inter-Palestinian crisis

Sep 13, 2008, 11:43 GMT

Gaza - Egypt has drawn up a plan to end the internal Palestinian crisis and will put it forward after obtaining acceptance from the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas, sources said Saturday.

Egypt came up the plan after rounds of bilateral talks with representatives of the different Palestinian factions. Later this month, the Egyptian officials will meet with the leaders of Hamas and Fatah separately to get their acceptance.

The Palestinian crisis escalated in June last year when Hamas routed security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, ousted his Fatah movement and took over control of the Gaza Strip, effectively separating it from the West Bank where Abbas has consolidated his rule.

According to the sources, the Egyptian plan's main point is to form a transitional technocrat government which doesn't include members from either of the factions in order to overcome the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, imposed after Hamas took control.

The transitional government would prepare for the holding of early elections and aim to rebuild the security services on a professional rather than a factional basis.

Fatah said Saturday its talks with Egyptian officials on launching an inter-Palestinian dialogue would take place on September 22. Hamas said Egypt will invite its leaders to Cairo at the end of September.