Abbas, Arab ministers discuss settlements, attacks on al-Aqsa

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Cairo on Tuesday on an official visit to take part in the inauguration of the new Suez Canal, scheduled for  Thursday.

On Wednesday, Abbas is meeting with Arab League officials and foreign ministers to discuss clashes involving Israeli police at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem.

Abbas met Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Araby to discuss the latest Palestinian developments and issues.

The meeting is held upon Palestine's request to probe the Israeli recent escalations in Jerusalem and continued settlement activities.

Last week, Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told reporters that the meeting would discuss "Israeli escalations at al-Aqsa mosque, continuing settlements, extra-judicial arrests and assassinations and forced displacements" of Palestinians.

The meeting will also discuss Palestinian reconciliation efforts and a new Arab bid to end the Israeli occupation through the United Nations, Erakat said.