Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit conferred Thursday 4/9/2008 with Secretary General of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) Nayef Hawatmeh on the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, especially means of realizing the aspired for national reconciliation.

"Egypt considered achieving Palestinian national reconciliation as a top priority," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossam Zaki said. "There is no other option but to close ranks among the Palestinians under the Palestinian legitimacy," he said.

Abul-Gheit stressed the importance of restoring Palestinian's internal unity to overcome the current stalemate. The Israeli side should also secure a positive climate for clinching a just peaceful settlement leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, the spokesman said quoting Abul-Gheit.

In statements following his meeting with Abul-Gheit Thursday, Hawatmeh said his talks with Abul-Gheit addressed the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and the importance of giving momentum to the Egyptian initiative on holding a comprehensive inter-Palestinian dialogue expected to open after Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramadan Bairam).

Egypt will prepare a working paper in this respect after holding a series of tête-à-tête talks with each Palestinian faction in order to extract points of agreement among the Palestinian groups, Hawatmeh said.

Hawatmeh said the ongoing direct talks between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government and the indirect talks between Hamas and Israel are restricted to limited security issues.

Meanwhile, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said during a meeting with Hawatmeh that the Arab League backs Egypt's efforts for holding the expanded dialogue among the Palestinian factions.