Is Abbas turning his back on Egypt?

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Several developments over the past few months can explain the lukewarm bilateral relations between Palestine and Egypt. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refused to defer to pressure from the Arab Quartet (Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia) to achieve an internal reconciliation in Fatah that would have allowed for the return of those dismissed from the movement, most notably Mohammed Dahlan.

Abbas announced on several occasions his rejection of any interference in Palestinian affairs. In a speech at Fatah's seventh congress on Nov. 30, Abbas said, “We confirm our categorical rejection of any interference in our internal affairs and preserve our national and independent decision,” thus reaffirming statements he had made in September that "no one can dictate positions or decisions to us.”