Haniyeh, Egypt spy chief discuss situation

Prime Minister of the Palestinian Government in Gaza Strip Ismail Haniyeh and chief of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate (EGID) Maj.-Gen. Mohammad Raafat Shahata discussed by phone on Monday the latest developments of the security situation in the Strip. Maj.-Gen. Shahata initiated the call, a brief statement by Haniyeh's office said tonight. Local media here reported recently that Cairo protested to Hamas, ruling in Gaza, over the missile firing into southern Israel which jeopardizes the truce between Israel and Hamas brokered by Egypt in last November. In a related development the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced tonight the deployment of Iron Dome batteries, an Israeli anti-missile defense system, in Askalan (Ashkelon) and other towns in southern Israel.