Officials: Abbas seeking Mideast allies' support for his decisions on Israel relations

Abbas begins three country regional tour in Cairo.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Updated: NOVEMBER 8, 2015 00:30
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the special meeting of Human Rights Council at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland October 28, 2015 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the special meeting of Human Rights Council at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland October 28, 2015
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Cairo on Saturday for the beginning of a tour that also will take him to Jordan and Saudi Arabia to discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian territories.
On Sunday, Abbas will hold talks in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Later this week, he is expected to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah and Saudi Arabia’s monarch Salman bin Abdel Aziz.
Palestinian officials in Ramallah said Abbas is hoping to win the backing of the three Arab leaders for any decision he takes regarding the future of relations between the PA and Israel.
Over the past few days, both the PLO and Fatah voiced support for an initiative to suspend security, political and economic ties with Israel. However, the PA leadership thus far has refrained from endorsing the initiative, largely due to American and European pressure, the officials said.