Gaza City: The head of Gaza’s rulers Hamas paid a brief visit to Egypt Sunday, a day before major protests are expected in Gaza over Washington’s controversial Jerusalem embassy move.
Ismail Haniyeh traveled early Sunday and met with the director of the Egyptian intelligence services Abbas Kamel to discuss the protests known as the “Great Return March,” Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya said.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians are expected to rally along the border between Gaza and Israel on Monday to protest as the US opens its embassy in Jerusalem.
Hamas leaders have voiced support in recent days for attempts to break the fence into Israel, despite the possibility of it leading to bloodshed.
Hayya, who traveled to Egypt with Hanya’s delegation, said Hamas had told the Egyptians “this march is peaceful and has popular support.”
He said they considered the meeting a “good one that comes within the framework of mobilizing Arab and Islamic support.”
Arab media have speculated that Egypt, one of only two Arab countries to have a peace treaty with Israel, could ease border restrictions with Gaza and offer economic relief in exchange for protesters not trying to breach the fence.
Fifty-four Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since mass protests broke out along the border on March 30. No Israelis have been injured.
The moving of the embassy, a campaign pledge by US President Donald Trump, has infuriated Palestinians, who view the eastern part of Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
Trump will not attend the embassy opening Monday, but his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner will.
Haniya returned to Gaza late Sunday ahead of the protests.
Hamas leader in brief Egypt visit ahead of Gaza protests
Hamas leader in brief Egypt visit ahead of Gaza protests
Israel’s Netanyahu says it would be a ‘mistake’ to hold elections now
- Failure to pass the budget by March 31 would trigger early elections
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that holding elections now would be a “mistake,” as he faces the possibility of a snap vote should he fail to pass a national budget.
The budget will have its first reading on Wednesday in Israel’s parliament, where Netanyahu’s coalition is only able to exercise a majority thanks to the uncertain cooperation of a former ally.
“Of course I’m concerned... I think we’re in a very sensitive situation,” Netanyahu said at a televised press conference.
Failure to pass the budget by March 31 would trigger early elections.
“I think the last thing we need right now is elections. We’ll have elections later on this year, but I think it’s a mistake to have them now” he said.
Elections are due to be held by November.
The leader of Likud, Israel’s main right-wing party, Netanyahu holds the record for the longest time served as Israel’s premier — more than 18 years in total over several stints since 1996 — and has already said he intends to run again.
In the last elections, Likud won 32 seats in the Knesset, its ultra-Orthodox allies 18, and a far-right alliance 14.
Some of Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox allies formally left his government last year, but for now refuse to bring it down.
However, they are reluctant to vote for the budget until the premier makes good on a promise to pass a law allowing their community to avoid military conscription.
Netanyahu’s current term began with a controversial judicial overhaul plan that sparked months of mass protests, with tens of thousands of Israelis taking to the streets almost daily.
