29 Mar 2024
Monday 14 August 2017 - 10:27
Story Code : 272203

Hamas, Iran plot closer path forward amid Qatar crisis

Al Monitor | Ali Hashem: When Hamas politcal bureaumember Izzat al-Rishq, heading a delegation from the movement, met with Irans supreme leaders foreign policy adviser, Ali Akbar Velayati, it was the first time the two men had met since 1991, when the former was still a junior member of Hamasand the latter was Irans foreign minister. The 1991 meeting gave Iran a strong ally inside the Palestinian territories and provided Hamas with steady and generous support to take its fight with Israel to another level. This was while the region was in the midst of a peace process that saw both the Palestinians and Jordanians signing separate peace accords with Israel.

Memories of the first meeting came to mind not only for the personal aspect but also becauseHamasrecent visit to Iran as in 1991 is aimed at putting relations back on track. For this specific reason, members of the delegation were chosen carefully so that they represent all lines of thought in the movement.

The meeting with Velayati wasnt the only meeting thedelegation held in Tehran; they also met with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif andparliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, and they took part in President Hassan Rouhanisinauguration ceremonyon Aug. 5, side by side with dozens of delegations from around the world.

Among the delegation were Zaher al-Jabarin and Saleh al-Arouri, both senior commanders whom Israel regards as serious threats to its national security. On June 9, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman asked the US ambassador to the UN on her visit to Israel to exert pressure so that Arourigets deported from Lebanon, where he resided after being asked along with Jabarin to leave Qatar. Both commanders are accused by Israel of being responsible for attacks inside the West Bank. For that reason,pressurewas exertedpreviously on Turkey Arouris station after leaving Syria to deport him. Jabari's and Arouris appearances in Tehran shortly after the latter was pictured in Beirut with an Iranian official might be a clear message from both Hamas and Iran to Israel that its two archenemies are starting a new venture.

 

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