Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Dec. 23

GAZA -- Head of Islamic Hamas movement Ismail Haneya said Saturday that it is possible that the U.S. administration take more measures against the Palestinians, including recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.

Haneya addressed a local scientific convention early Saturday, where he slammed the recent U.S. moves against Jerusalem and said "we have information that the U.S. administration might take new decisions regarding Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause, which include recognizing Israel as a Jewish state." (Palestine-Israel-U.S.)

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ISMAILIA, Egypt -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Saturday that Egypt's armed forces will use "utmost violence" to eradicate terrorism in the country's Sinai Peninsula.

He made the remarks while inaugurating a number of national mega projects at the Suez Canal region in Ismailia province northeast of the capital Cairo. (Egypt-Sisi-Sinai)

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TRIPOLI -- Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj said Saturday that holding elections can solve the political crisis in the country.

Serraj made his remarks during a meeting with the Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano in the capital Tripoli. (Libya-Political Crisis-Elections)

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RABAT -- France has loaned Morocco 152 million U.S. dollars to finance the purchase of locomotives by the kingdom's state-owned railway operator ONCF, local media reported Saturday.

An agreement, signed by Mohamed Boussaid, Morocco's Minister of Economy and Finance, and French ambassador to Morocco Jean Francois Girault, aims to support ONCF's strategy to renew its railways electric traction fleet, the Moroccan daily Le Matin said. (Morocco-France-Loan) Enditem