Egyptian officials meet with Hamas over border issues

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Hamas delegation met Tuesday with Egyptian officials in the Rafah border terminal in an effort to try to open the border and tighten security, officials said. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the two sides were discussing security arrangements along the border and possible ways to allow Palestinians still stuck in Egypt to cross back into the Gaza Strip. Egyptian security officials would only confirm that the meeting - the second one in a week - took place, but they would not provide details. Hamas is pushing to replace its rival Palestinian faction, Fatah, and the Palestinian Authority mandate over the terminal, something all other parties reject including Egypt.