Fatah spokesman Ahmed Abdel Rahman announced on Thursday that a meeting
between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas Prime Minister Ismail
Haneya was likely on Friday at Abbas' Gaza headquarters.
Ahmed Abdel Rahman told reporters that the meeting was ordinary, and many
issues would be covered during the meeting. Observers think the meeting would be
critical as it takes place amid an international boycott to the Hamas
government, a fiscal crisis and trade of accusations between Hamas politburo
members and Abbas-led Fatah party's spokespersons.
According to Abdel Rahman, the two would confer over a proposed
inter-Palestinian talks scheduled in mid-May and the unpaid salaries of 160,000
government employees.
Another issue that might be discussed would be an earlier decision by the
Interior Minister to form a new executive force to help police impose law and
restore order in the Palestinian territories, said the Fatah spokesman.
The Hamas-led government has been isolated economically and diplomatically
since took office in March.
In order to break the financial siege, Abbas, though in dispute with Hamas
over power sharing, and senior Hamas officials have been on foreign tours to
appeal for aid continuation.