Egypt calls on US to recognize Palestinian state

YNet News (Link) - AFP (May 1, 2011)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi on Sunday called on the United States to recognize a Palestinian state, as rival Palestinian factions prepare to sign a reconciliation accord in Cairo.

Arabi urged visiting US Congressman Steve Chabot to �press Congress and the American administration to recognize a Palestinian state.�

Recognition �would correspond with previous statements by the American administration supporting peace based on two states,� the official MENA news agency quoted him as saying.

Arabi, who held talks on the Arab-Israeli conflict with Chabot, also called on the United States to �exert efforts to hold an international Middle East peace conference,� MENA said.

Palestinian factions are preparing to sign a deal in Cairo on Wednesday after President Mahmoud Abbas�s Fatah faction and its bitter foe Hamas agreed to form a government that would prepare for elections in a year.

US President Barack Obama�s administration re-launched direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in September only to see them grind to a halt three weeks later. �