Hamas terror mastermind Saleh Arouri named deputy politburo chief

Saleh Arouri, who has a long record as mastermind of the deadliest terrorist attacks against Israel, was named Thursday first deputy to Ismail Haniyeh, who holds the most senior position in the organization as head of its political bureau. Hamas sources report that this high appointment was conferred on Arouri last week when the political bureau met in Cairo. It was kept secret from the Palestinian reconciliation meeting on Wednesday. DEBKAfile: This is part of the heavy price Israel will be called on to pay for the Netanyahu government’s passive acceptance of the reconciliation process underway between Fatah and Hamas under Egyptian and American auspices. See DEBKAfile’s warning of the dire consequences of Israel’s non-intervention.