Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem on December 25, 2011. (Photo: Reuters)
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi will meet his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, on Wednesday in Cairo to discuss regional issues of mutual concern, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said Saturday.
"The two presidents will tackle the future of the peace process, Palestinian reconciliation and the urgent necessity of lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip," he said.
On Friday, during a news conference with his Tunisian counterpart, Moncef Marzouki, in Cairo, Morsi expressed his support for the Palestinians and called on the feuding Fatah and Hamas factions to reconcile.
Morsi declared that Arab support for the Palestinians should be provided, as Israel insists on resuming its settlement construction projects amid negotiations aimed at implementing the two-state solution.
"We agree on supporting the Palestinian cause and Palestinian reconciliation," said Morsi, whose Muslim Brotherhood movement has historic ties with the Islamist Hamas government in the Gaza Strip. Morsi, however, said he "stood at the same distance from all Palestinian factions."
Morsi did not say whether Egypt will ease border restrictions with Gaza, which Israel and Egypt blockaded after Hamas routed Fatah from the enclave in 2007.
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