Hamas' Rising Star

Egyptian President Meets Hamas' Gaza Leader -Tom Perry & Nidal al-Mughrabi

Gaza Islamist leader Ismail Haniyeh met Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in an official visit that signaled a big shift in Cairo's stance toward Hamas after the election of a Muslim Brotherhood head of state in Egypt. Mubarak never recognized the Hamas administration which has governed Gaza since 2007.
(Reuters)
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Hamas Rising -Jonathan Schanzer

Hamas is riding high on the beneficence of two of the Middle East's emerging Sunni powerhouses. In February, Hamas announced a $250 million deal with Qatar for reconstruction projects. Doha is also providing funds for sports and housing projects. And Qatar appears to be the new global headquarters of the Hamas politburo after Damascus.

Turkey's Islamist government has also embraced Hamas, both economically and diplomatically. Hamas has also enjoyed a red-carpet welcome in Tunisia, where the Islamist al-Nahda party has taken the reins of power.

The victory of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi in Egypt's presidential elections has energized Hamas. Hamas, unlike the PA, has never needed Western handouts.
(Foreign Policy)


Arab Spring: A Blessing for Hamas -Khaled Abu Toameh

Thanks to the "Arab Spring," Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal [pictured] has, for the first time ever, entered the Presidential Palace in Cairo. Until recently, Mashaal and other Hamas leaders were considered personae non gratae in both Jordan and Egypt. The rising power of Hamas makes any talk about a peace process sound like a joke.
(Gatestone Institute)
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