The United States is pushing for a Hamas-Fatah unity government, despite the fact that Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and EU. Reports Saturday said that the U.S. has "offered encouragement" to Egypt as Cairo seeks to draw the two warring terror factions together in order to build a unity government for the Palestinian Authority. Last Thursday, George Mitchell, President Barack Obama's special envoy to the region, said that he wanted to see a unity government formed.
The talks were to have begun in Egypt last week, but have been pushed off until this Wednesday. Among the thorny issues to be sorted out will be Hamas' demands that its people be allowed to help supervise the Rafiach crossing. According to the PA's current agreement with Israel, only Fatah troops are allowed to monitor the crossing.