El-Sisi Brokers Gaza Deal in Egypt's Push for Relevance

  • Palestinian deal would serve Egypt’s security interests
  • El-Sisi has drawn closer to Russia, but maintained U.S. ties

Palestinians pass by a staged poster of Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi t in Gaza City, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017.

Photographer: Khalil Hamra/AP
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From high above a street corner, the smiling face of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi gazes out over passersby, the air of paternal authority captured by an accompanying legend: “Long live Egypt.”

But this isn’t Cairo, it’s Gaza, a destitute strip of Palestinian territory to the northeast. The poster is testament to El-Sisi’s so far successful efforts to broker a reconciliation between long-feuding Palestinian factions, with critical talks due to resume in Egypt’s capital on Tuesday.