CAIRO — Representatives of the Palestinian Authority and its chief rival, the Muslim radical movement Hamas, embarked Monday on their first official reconciliation talks since PLO leader Yasser Arafat made peace with Israel in 1993.
The Palestinian Authority hopes to persuade Hamas to declare a formal end to the guerrilla war against Israel and to take part in Palestinian elections scheduled for Jan. 20. Hamas, in turn, wants the authority to allow it political freedoms and to press Israel to free political prisoners.
