Epstein Secrets

February, Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiyah visited Tehran for that purpose. The source added that last week, Iran gave the green light for Meshaal's visit after contacts between Zahar and Marwan Issa, a senior leader in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing. This long overdue v

financial support, as it signaled that there is no veto on the movement by decision-making circles in Tehran. Furthermore, Hamas is optimistic that Meshaal's visit will result in increasing Iran's financial support. The latter was confirmed by Ahmed Youssef, a former political adviser to Palestinian l

ilateral relationship. Al-Monitor has learned from a source close to Hamas' political leadership that Iran is also planning to receive Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal soon, after a long tug of war marked by undisclosed shuttle discussions. The source said that Qatar was mediating with Iran to restore ties with Ha

s between Zahar and Marwan Issa, a senior leader in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing. This long overdue visit will culminate in Meshaal meeting with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In his meeting with Meshaal and in his recent and first visit to Qatar, Islamic Jihad S

n the Nobel Prize and leave us in quiet," Ya'alon said. ("Quiet," it seems, is how Ya'alon foresees the consequences of permanent Israeli rule over the West Bank.) Ya'alon didn't deny the comments. It took him a day, and a press statement from State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki labeling his words "offens

nces. Al-Monitor: What is the latest news concerning the protracted reconciliation between Hamas and Iran? What is causing the continued delay for Meshaal's upcoming visit? Abu Marzouk: The region is undergoing a reshuffling of relations and alliances that includes Hamas. As a result, Hamas is endeavo

old Hamas leader who played a pivotal role in achieving the reconciliation deal with Fatah on April 23. Abu Marzouk's remarks come as Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas meet in Qatar. The Hamas leader added that the Quartet's requirement that Hamas recognize Israel

od of high tension brought about by the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi last July. There has also been recent talk of a possible visit by Meshaal to Tehran to restore the ties that have been damaged by the Syria crisis. That visit remains indefinitely delayed. Abu Marzouk conceded that resto

with Tehran is as it was in the past, but there are efforts to repair it." The text of the interview follows: Al-Monitor: Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank are skeptical about the prospects of reconciliation. Are you confident that it will be implemented, in light of past failures? And why are the Pale

res that lead his movements to be well-tracked and detailed. Hence, he went only after receiving his Iranian allies' blessings. In Doha, Shalah and Meshaal discussed the latter's forthcoming trip to Tehran, a long-anticipated visit delayed by the wait for Tehran to extend an invitation. The hurdle in p

, Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Abdullah Shalah, a close ally of Tehran, visited the Qatari capital of Doha to meet his ally and comrade Khaled Meshaal, the leader of Hamas, according to sources close to Shalah. It is rare that someone like Shalah visits Doha, given the tight security measures tha

speak out in support of any beleaguered people denied the freedom and justice that I believe all of us deserve. After visiting Israel in 2005 and the West Bank the following year, I was deeply moved and concerned by what I saw, and determined to add my voice to those searching for an equitable and lawful s

1878 "offers of welcome" from Egypt's new President Mohammed Morsi as well as the emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad al-Thani. A native of the West Bank, Meshaal has already ruled out moving to Gaza, where M be surrounded by rivals and even enemies. He holds a Jordanian passport, but could only settle in Am

hanging came this week with the announcement that top Hamas leader Khalid al-Meshaal is to step down after 16 years, triggering a succession race. Meshaal has had to leave Damascus (after 13 years) because he indicated support for the Syrian uprising. People close to him claim that he's had EFTA007118

gs Amir Taheri September 28, 2012 -- The Arab Spring may finally have reached the Palestinians. Protests against the rival authorities in Gaza and the West Bank haven't become the kind of full-scale revolts that hit Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Syria. But there is a growing sense that the leaderships of

resh elections, neither event has materialized, while the rivalry has resumed. Those in Hamas who favored making peace with Abbas, led by chairman Khaled Meshaal, lost out to those in Hamas who argued to remain on their own, not least because the Arab Spring is delivering governments into the hands of politi

n through tunnels, as Hamas does. But if money was all that mattered, Mahmoud Abbas would still rule Gaza. His Palestinian Authority (PA), based in the West Bank, sends money each year into Gaza at least four times the amount from the Emir. The PA is still paying the salaries of the 70,000 teachers and other