The outcome of Egypt’s upcoming presidential election will directly impact Palestinian reconciliation efforts, said the Fatah official responsible for reconciliation talks with rival faction Hamas.
Azzam al-Ahmed said Hamas would become more extreme should the Muslim Brotherhood candidate in Egypt’s election, Mohamed Morsy, win the contest.
He added that Hamas leaders do not want to resolve the political split because they believe a Brotherhood win in Egypt would put Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, in a more powerful position vis-à-vis Fatah, which governs the West Bank.
“They are suspending reconciliation efforts to see what happens with Morsy,” Ahmed said. “We hope the next president will be able to maintain Egypt’s leading role.”
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
