Haniyeh contacts Egyptian FM

Haniyeh contacts Egyptian FM
Published March 13, 2011 22:01

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday contacted Egypt’s newly-appointed Foreign Minister Nabil Al-Arabi to discuss relations between the governments.

Haniyeh praised Egypt’s historic and pioneering role in the Palestinian struggle, and noted the strong relations linking Egyptians and the people of Gaza, a government statement said.

Al-Arabi affirmed Egypt’s interest in the Palestinian cause.

Al-Arabi has previously served as a judge in The Hague’s International Court of Justice and as Egypt’s ambassador to the UN.

For Gaza residents, the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the formation of a new government offers hope that the new regime will ease the siege on the coastal enclave.

From the start of the Egyptian revolution in January, Gaza residents were optimistic that a new Egyptian leadership would ease restrictions at the Rafah crossing.

Under Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, it maintains control of the territory’s airspace. Israel’s borders with the territory are sealed, permission from the military authorities must be sought for all goods entering the area, and Israel’s navy imposes a tight sea blockade on Gaza’s coast, restricting even local fisherman to a 3-nautical-mile limit.

The Rafah crossing on Gaza’s border with Egypt provides the only access point to the outside world for Gaza’s 1.6 million inhabitants, it is the only crossing that is not directly controlled by Israel’s military.

Maan News Agency: Haniyeh contacts Egyptian FM.

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