Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit said over the weekend that he did not believe talks between Israel and Palestinian Authority could restart at this time, in large part because of the ongoing feud between Hamas and Fatah. Gheit said that only when the Fatah and Hamas terror groups come to an agreement among themselves will they be able to develop a common negotiating position on behalf of the PA.

Speaking after a meeting with high-level officials in Washington, Gheit said that Egypt would not work towards organizing a summit between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanayhu and PA chief Mahmoud Abbas at this time, because conditions were not right. However, he said, Israel was obligated to live up to all the commitments it made if and when the talks begin.