DEBKA: Abbas-Meshaal meeting in Doha breaks up in quarrel
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas traveled to Doha Thursday to persuade Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal to accept a unified Palestinian stand on a Gaza ceasefire at talks with Israel in Cairo. DEBKAfile reports exclusively that the meeting quickly broke up in shouts and abuse. Under the gaze of Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani, each accused the other of betraying the Palestinian people. Unless their second meeting Friday fares better, the Cairo initiative for a negotiated ceasefire is done for.
Abbas was scheduled to travel to Cairo Friday to report on progress to Egyptian President Abdel-Fatteh Al-Sisi.