Egypt stems Gaza, Sinai clan fighting

Egyptian authorities in northern Sinai brokered a traditional reconciliation between warring Palestinian and Egyptian clans in the Egyptian city of Rafah on Friday evening. Armed clashes between the al-Sayyah and al-Shaer families have been ongoing for more than a month. The families, who live in the Egyptian border town and the Gaza city of the same name, abducted family members using the smuggling tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border. The Sulha (traditional reconciliation) was agreed after several meetings hosted by the Egyptian authorities, a Ma'an correspondent said. Two family members -- Marwan al-Sayyah and Omar al-Shaer -- who were abducted by their rivals, will be exchanged as part of the deal.