(Reuters) Egypt is finalizing details of a long-term truce deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, an Egyptian security source said on Thursday, amid easing tensions. "We are putting the final touches to the terms of the truce that will be signed by all sides, and we expect to announce the terms next week if Fatah helps us to do so," the source said, referring to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' party. Officials from Fatah have not joined the talks in Cairo, but Fatah's backing is crucial for any deal. A Palestinian source in Ramallah said Abbas had informed Egypt that Fatah representatives would join the Cairo talks by next week. The Egyptian source said, "The period of calm will be for one year, during which contacts will be held to extend it for another four years." Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel this week, an Israeli official confirmed.
2018-08-17 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive