Haniyeh heads to Egypt for talks on reconciliation

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Friday left the Gaza strip for talks on reconciliation in Egypt, his adviser said, as the division entered its seventh year. Haniyeh will discuss reconciliation between his movement and the Fatah party, as well as the Palestinian situation, with the Egyptian leadership, Essam Daales told Ma'an. On Friday, the division of the West Bank and Gaza under separate governments entered its seventh year. On June 14, 2007, President Mahmoud Abbas dissolved the last unity government, and a day later appointed Salam Fayyad to head the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Hamas retained control of the Gaza Strip. Despite repeated rounds of talks and reconciliation agreements, the rival parties continue to lead separate governments in the West Bank and Gaza.