Haniyeh begins tour of Arab capitals and Turkey

Ismail Haniyeh, the elected Prime Minister of the Palestinian government in Gaza, has left the territory for a tour of Arab capitals and Turkey. This is his second such tour in the five years since he took office.

Sources close to the Prime Minister say that he is being accompanied by his political adviser, Dr Yousef Rizqa, and a number of ministers and officials. He is expected to visit Egypt, Sudan, Qatar, Bahrain, Tunisia and Turkey. The focus of the visits will be investment for Gaza and the development of an international strategy to protect the city of Jerusalem from Israel’s Judaisation policies.

The Israeli government has expressed concerns about the tour, coming as it is in the wake of the Arab revolutions.

On the last occasion that the Prime Minister left for a foreign tour, Mr Haniyeh and his party were attacked at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. One member of his group was killed and a number of the others were injured, including his eldest son, Abdul Salam. The chief suspect for the attack remains Fatah’s Muhammad Dahlan.

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