Palestinian President Abbas to Meet With Assad in Syria This Month

Reuters

October 7, 2008

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Damascus this month to discuss efforts to reconcile his Fatah movement with Islamist Hamas rivals and peace talks with Israel, Palestinian officials said on Friday.

MK Ahmed Tibi, an Israeli Arab lawmaker and Abbas’ confidant, told Reuters the Palestinian leader would visit Damascus on October 12 for consultations. Tibi said Abbas has been in close contact with Syrian President Bashar Assad to coordinate positions on issues including efforts to reconcile Fatah with Hamas since the Islamists seized control of Gaza from forces loyal to Abbas last year.

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