[Ynet] Hamas Deputy Chief Ismail Haniyeh arrives in Egypt, the highest level visit by a member of the Palestinian militant group since Egypt's army overthrew an Islamist president in 2013; In recent months, Cairo has increased the number of people allowed out of Gaza and sent public signals that it is interested in improving relations.Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, Deputy Chief Ismail Haniyeh
...became Prime Minister after the legislative elections of 2006 which Hamas won. President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed Haniyeh from office on 14 June 2007 at the height of the Fatah-Hamas festivities, but Haniyeh did not acknowledge the decree and continues as the PM of Gazoo while Abbas maintains a separate PM in the West Bank...
has arrived in Egypt for meetings with security officials, the highest level visit by a member of the Paleostinian bully boy group since Egypt's army overthrew an Islamist president in 2013.
Haniyeh arrived late Sunday, Egyptian security officials said, as Hamas officials confirmed the visit. All spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief news hounds.
For most of the past decade, Egypt had issued a blockade on Hamas-ruled Gazoo, stifling the economy and largely blocking its 2 million people from moving in and out of the territory. But after a three-year crackdown, signs are emerging that Egypt is easing the pressure in a step to repair its shattered ties with Hamas.
In recent months, Cairo has increased the number of people allowed to exit through the Rafah border crossing, Gazoo's main gateway to the outside world. It also has begun to allow Gazoo to import commercial goods through Rafah for the first time since 2013, and sent public signals that it is interested in improving relations.
Haniyeh left Gazoo in September to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca--the first time Egypt allowed him to leave the territory since Morsi's ouster.
He then went to Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates...
to see Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal and discuss issues including the group's upcoming elections. Mashaal is slated to step down from his position this spring, and Haniya is considered a strong candidate to replace him. Meshaal's deputy Moussa Abu Marzouk is the other main candidate.