"What is required, if we were to agree and I hope we shall agree, is a national unity government that undertakes ... lifting the (Israeli) blockade, opening the crossings, reconstruction and holding simultaneous presidential and legislative elections," Abbas told an economic Arab summit in Kuwait.

Arab leaders reconcile differences in Kuwait

Arab leaders have patched up their differences over the three-week Israeli offensive against Gaza in a Saudi reconciliation bid on the sidelines of an Arab summit that had been marred by divisions, Qatar's prime minister said

King Abdullah, leader of Saudi Arabia, called on Arabs at the summit opening to rise above their differences and hosted a lunch that brought together the leaders of Kuwait, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Qatar, Qatar premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani told Al Jazeera TV.

"There was clear word from these leaders for a real, clear reconciliation, from the heart. We left with an understanding that undoubtedly a new page had been turned that would benefit and strengthen the Arab position..." Sheikh Hamad added

Reconciliation meeting : Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa (L-R), Jordan's King Abdullah, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak, Saudi King Abdullah, Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah sit together after the opening ceremony of the Arab economic summit in Kuwait January 19, 2009.