Factions to address key issues in Cairo meeting

Palestinian factions are scheduled to meet Tuesday mid-morning in Cairo to discuss the reconciliation deal signed in May, a Hamas official said. Ismail Radwan told Ma'an that among other issues, the parties will discuss the formation of an elections committee, the reactivation of the Palestinian Legislative Council, forming a unity government, the reconciliation committee and trust building procedures for a temporary leadership meeting. Earlier on Tuesday, a political source, who wished to remain anonymous, told Ma'an that Hamas and Fatah have agreed to address sensitive unresolved issues during the general factional meeting on Tuesday. Hamas and Fatah have also agreed to stop all politically motivated detentions and to start releasing all detainees held for political reasons in the both the West Bank and Gaza. “If the PA’s security services believe any detainees might be in danger after they are released, they will be released on their own responsibilities. Egypt will directly follow up with this case which will be closed once and for all,” the source said. Both Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal and President Mahmoud Abbas will take part in the factional meeting on Tuesday. Hamas and Fatah leaders applauded progress in the unity deal between their parties after meeting in Cairo on Sunday, but sounded a note of caution that more work was yet to be done to end the division. The reconciliation accord aims to unite the parties after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, a year after winning national elections. Ousted Fatah incumbents who left the coastal strip set up a rival administration in the West Bank. Both sides accused the other of planning to gain power by force, and since 2007 prolonging the conflict through politically-motivated detentions and abuses.