Gerry Adams, a key player in Northern Ireland’s peace process, and head of the Irish Republican Army-linked Sinn Fein met with Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh late Wednesday in Gaza and planned more talks with officials of the Islamic militant group Thursday.
Sinn Fein is a political party linked to the Irish Republican Army – a group that, like Hamas, was labeled terrorist because of violent tactics used to battle Britain. But unlike Hamas, Sinn Fein engaged in negotiations that transformed it into a legitimate political player, recognized by Britain and local foes.