Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to arrive in Cairo Friday night, ahead of a meeting Saturday with Egyptian president Husni Mubarak. The two are expected to discuss the diplomatic process with Israel as well as internal PA matters.
Abbas is not scheduled to meet with Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, who is scheduled to head a senior Hamas delegation which arrives on Saturday. Mashaal is expected to discuss reconciliation with Fatah, as well as a prisoner-exchange deal with Israel that would result in the release of abducted soldier Gilad Shalit. A Hamas delegation from Gaza arrived on Thursday