After Haniyeh's visit to Morsi, Egypt to extend Rafah border working hours

Egypt has agreed to keep Rafah border, crossing with Gaza Strip, open for 12 hours every day, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said on Saturday after his four-day visit to Egypt.

Furthermore, the number of travelers leaving the enclave will rise to 1,500 a day, and all arrivals from abroad will be let in. "Sixty percent of the Gazan citizens blacklisted by Egypt and denied entry have been removed from the list," Haniyeh added.

In addition, he said, an agreement has been reached that any Palestinian citizen who arrives in Egypt from other countries will be granted a 72-hour visa, so as to make travel arrangements and avoid been deported.

The electricity crisis was also discussed, he said.

"Three major steps will be carried out to solve the power crisis starting with an increase in the amount of fuel to Gaza’s power plant in tandem with amplifying the power grid from Egypt to Gaza from 22 to 30 megawatt. After that, a gas pipeline will be built to provide Egyptian natural gas to the sole power plant in the coastal enclave. Then, the Gaza Strip will be connected to the joint Arab grid known as the 8th Grid."

Haniyeh and Morsi discussed as well reopening the Egyptian consulate in Gaza City, which had been shut down since the Israeli military offensive on Gaza, according to Haniyeh.

He hinted that he discussed with Morsi the issue of smuggling tunnels under the borders with Egypt.

"The tunnels were a temporary phenomenon created when the Palestinians lost all elements of life. They used them to fulfill their needs, and it is their natural right, but if the siege on Gaza is ended, these tunnels will be needless".

Meanwhile, the head of Egyptian intelligence had promised Ismail Haniyeh to increase the flow of fuel supplied by Qatar to Gaza via Egypt, Reuters news reported.

Last week, Morsi met with Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal and other members of Hamas’s politburo. The official Egyptian news agency noted that during the meeting, Morsi stressed that he stands at one distance from all Palestinan factions.

In addition, Morsi's spokesman said that Morsi had promised to take measures that would improve the lives of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Reuters news reported.

In a related development,the new Egypt's prime minister Hisham Kandil told reporters in Cairo after meeting with Morsi that Egypt's new government will be announced Aug. 2.

"I will announce the formation of the cabinet in its final form next Thursday," Prime Minister Hisham Kandil said in statements carried by state news agency MENA and state TV.

Based on the above, it seems that the results of Hamas delegations visit to Egypt didn't meet their expectations. Morsi knows exactly, that he is, today, dealing as a president and not as a party leader. He did meet Hamas delegations but before this he met the Palestinian president, who explained for him the Palestinian situation towards the internal reconciliation. Hamas should fully understand that Egypt will not allow any encroachment on its Rafah border with Gaza.

In general, Hamas appears happy with this meeting, yet disappointed deep inside.

Source: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4261454,00.html