GAZA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- An aide to Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya said in a statement faxed to the media on Thursday that the Egyptian mediation is necessary for making up a deepening political rift among the Palestinians.

    The Egyptian mediation "became a political need to protect our national project," Ahmed Yousef said in the statement.

    Meanwhile, Yousef underlined that the Palestinians are in need of new Arab and international initiatives that do not give priority to Israel's recognition.

    "We need new Arab and international initiatives that don't put the condition of recognizing Israel as a primary condition," said Yousef, warning the Palestinian cause was in danger if a national unity government can not be formed.

    The advisor also proposed holding an expanded meeting in Cairo between leaders of rival groups Hamas and Fatah on the formation of a national unity government.

    "The time has come for an expanded meeting in Cairo between the leaders of Hamas and Fatah ... to discuss new attempts or to finalize what has been previously accepted," he said.

    Yousef made the remarks as all efforts failed to push an inter-Palestinian agreement to replace the Hamas-led government with a broader coalition.

    The decision to bring up a new government was taken in a bid to lift the international boycott on the Hamas-led government as a result of its refusal to recognize Israel. Enditem