CAIRO: Hamas aims to open a new page with Egypt under its new leadership, said leading Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Zahar during his first visit to the country in three years on Monday. Egypt's former president, Hosni Mubarak, was seen by Hamas as a close ally of the United States who played a role in the blockade of Gaza through cooperating with Israel and closing the Rafah border crossing. Al-Zahar, Hamas' Minister of Foreign Affairs, was accompanied by Khalil al-Hayya, and held a press conference at the Journalists' Syndicate in downtown Cairo. Al-Zahar and al-Hayya met with the head of the Egyptian intelligence's deputies upon their arrival in Cairo, and met with Foreign Minister Nabil el-Arabi, Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa, and some members of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). The meeting with el-Arabi focused on Palestinian reconciliation. Al-Zahar's visit is a part of a tour to the region including Sudan and Turkey to discuss the effect of the new developments in the Middle East region on the Palestinian cause, following the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt and the changes in their regimes. Al Zahar stressed that Hamas has never taken any action against Egypt's national security and added that the security of Palestine relies on Egypt's stability and security. Al-Zahar welcomed Foreign Minister el-Arabi's statements warning Israel against launching a new military operation on Gaza, adding that Egypt's security is its strength and sovereignty, and both are to the benefit of the Palestinian cause. Al-Zahar said he hopes Egypt's new rulers will have a different policy toward Gaza and permanently reopen Rafah, a key border crossing. In a different context, the head of the SCAF, Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi, held talks Tuesday with the commander of U.S. Central Command who was accompanied by a delegation, state news agency MENA reported. Tantawi and Commander James Mattis discussed methods of enhancing military relations between the two countries as well as exchanging experiences and holding joint trainings. The meeting was also attended by members of the SCAF and the U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Margaret Scobey. For his part, Mattis commended the role played by the SCAF toward achieving democracy in Egypt and helping Egyptians engage in policy. BM
