Hamas Delegation in Egypt for Talks on Palestinian Unity

A high-level delegation from the Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas is to meet with Egyptian authorities in Cairo Wednesday for talks on Palestinian reconciliation.

The Hamas delegation includes three senior officials from the Gaza Strip, led by Mahmoud al-Zahar, as well as Damascus-based deputy political chief Moussa Abu Marzouk.

Egyptian officials hope the negotiations will lead to direct talks between Hamas and the rival Fatah faction of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. They want to heal the rift between the two groups that has divided the Palestinian territories for more than a year.

Egypt has proposed forming a temporary government of technocrats to govern until early elections can be held.

Hamas won a majority in the 2006 parliamentary elections but a Hamas-led government was crippled by Western financial sanctions and lack of recognition because of Hamas' refusal to accept Israel.

Hamas and the more moderate Fatah then briefly formed a unity government, but that fell apart in factional fighting and Hamas seized control of Gaza in June 2007. Fatah has since controlled the West Bank and the Palestinian Authority, while Hamas remains in control of Gaza.