Abbas is finishing up a week-long diplomatic trip in Egypt, where he is meeting with a variety of leaders.
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: JULY 9, 2017 11:11Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (R) meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Cairo, January 14, 2015(photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is set to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday, according to Palestinian media.Abbas arrived in Cairo on Saturday and is expected to discuss a variety of topics with the Egyptian leader. Already, he has met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Samih Shukri as well as Ahmad Abu al-Gheit, the secretary general of the Arab League, according to Palestinian news agency Ma'an.While most of Abbas's meetings have centered around discussions on Palestinian statehood and condemnations of Israel and its settlement policies, Abbas also took the time to affirm the Palestinian Authority's backing of Egypt's 'war on terror.' On Friday, suicide bombers in Rafah, on the border with Gaza, detonated explosives that killed 23 Egyptian soldiers, the deadliest such attack in years. The bombers were reportedly affiliated with the Islamic State.As Abbas arrived in Cairo, the power authority in Gaza accused the PA of blocking monetary transfers to Egyptian banks, leading Egyptian leaders to prevent the delivery of electricity to the Strip. Electricity in Gaza has already been reduced due to the existing crisis between the PA and Hamas leadership. Part of Abbas's trip is to reaffirm ties between the PA and Egypt, as the alliance between Hamas and Sisi's government appears to be growing closer.Abbas is accompanied on the trip by his spokesman, as well as Azzam al-Ahmad, the head of the Fatah in the Palestinian parliament, Madji al-Khalidi, his closest diplomatic advisor, and Mjid Faraji, who serves as the chief of the Palestinian Authority's general intelligence service.The stop in Cairo is part of a larger diplomatic trip which began in Ethiopia last week. Abbas then traveled to France and Tunisia, finishing his trip in Egypt.
