Egypt, March 2, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will meet Egyptian President - Hosni Mubarak in Sharm El-Sheikh today to formulate a united stance on restarting the peace process with Israel.

Fatah Central Committee member Azzam Al-Ahmad told Radio Palestine the officials would discuss how to restart indirect talks with Israel, as proposed by the United States recently through peace envoy George Mitchell.

Al-Ahmad said that the most important issue to be discussed is a coordinated Arab stance on next steps.

In remarks from Sharm El-Sheikh, Al-Ahmad said he was hopeful the two leaders would reach an agreement ahead of the Arab Follow Up Committee meeting in Cairo this evening.
He meanwhile revealed that the PA has communicated with officials in a number of Europe, Russia, Arab countries and the UN to exchange information and reach a final stance before the committee meeting.

According to official reports, the proposal Mitchell conveyed included five points:

• halting Israeli incursions into territories designated as "Area A" in the Oslo Accord (full PA control)
• converting certain "B" areas (PA administrative control, Israeli security control) to "A" areas
• allowing PA access to "C" areas ( full Israeli control)
• releasing a specified number of Palestinian prisoners
• discussing a halt in settlement expansion, through a new round of U.S. shuttle diplomacy between Tel Aviv and Ramallah.

The Fatah official said "there would be no return to direct talks with Israel without a prior full stop of all types of settlement activity. whether in Al-Quds (Jerusalem) or elsewhere in the West Bank, and without a clear reference for talks, particularly regarding borders of thePalestinian state."

Al-Ahmad said he was optimistic a unified Arab stance can be reached. Reports recently indicated the Palestinians are seeking Egyptian and other Arab support against resumption of talks with Israel, which is insisting upon continuing with its settlement projects in the West Bank and Al-Quds area.