Informed sources in the Hamas movement said the head of the movement’s political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, was discontent with accusations made against him "from within the closed leadership rooms in the Gaza Strip," particularly those made by two leaders, Mahmoud el-Zahar and Khalil al-Hayya. The sources described these accusations as "flawed, shameful and made against a man who served the movement for many years.”

The accusations came after officials in Hamas confirmed that Meshaal will not run again for the leadership of the movement. [The Hamas political bureau is the organization's principal decision-making body and its members are elected by secret ballot by the much larger consultative council.]

The sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that Meshaal is "facing serious accusations made by leaders Zahar and Hayya, who are saying that he is an incompetent politician who is offering unacceptable concessions in order to reach reconciliation with the Palestinian Authority and the Fatah movement, while at the same time they are criticizing his position on normalization with Israel.”

However, these sources confirmed to Al-Hayat that the attempt to exclude Meshaal from office during the recent period was due to "personal conflicts and whims.”

The sources explained that "a broad movement led by Zahar and Hayya had — over the past few months — been seeking to block any efforts aimed at renewing Meshaal's term in the movement’s ongoing election. The sources also talked about the state of division plaguing political  and military leaders within the Gaza strip for the same reason.

They added that Izz ad-Din al-Qassam's battalions, which consitute the military wing of the movement, confirmed several times that they have repeatedly demanded that Meshaal's term be renewed, arguing that the election of another person would be "political suicide.”

Al-Hayat learned that a meeting was held between Meshaal and Ahmed Jabari, the second-in-command after Qassam, in Cairo, following the Jan. 25 revolution. During this meeting, Jabari submitted a letter to Meshaal from the leader of the Brigades Mohammed al-Deif, informing him of "the need to stay in office and confirming that all the leaders and members of the military wing stand united behind his leadership.”

Al-Hayat also learned that influential leaders in the movement are still exerting intensive efforts to make Meshaal back down on his decision. The sources pointed out that "these leaders could force him into a role against his will," however they added that the decision is "non-binding in any case.”

Sources in Hamas told an Al-Hayat correspondent in Ramallah that a number of prominent supporters of Meshaal have lost in the movement’s internal elections, and said that this is likely to have an impact on Meshaal's decision not to run in the upcoming elections.

The sources pointed out that the movement has completed elections within the Gaza Strip, and has appointed representatives in the West Bank, after elections could not be held there for security reasons. However, the movement is facing problems holding elections abroad.

The sources said that elections are being held for a second time in several areas abroad due to appeals and withdrawals.

Officials in Hamas said that the ongoing elections have come under the scrutiny of the movement’s judiciary’s, and noted that the judiciary has called for a re-vote in a number of areas, thus delaying the scheduled completion date. In fact, sources say that the movement will not be able to complete the elections before the end of the year.

Although none of the movement’s leaders have yet announced their intention to run for the headship of the political bureau, all eyes are now focused on Hamas Political Bureau Deputy Head Dr. Moussa Abu Marzouk to replace Meshaal.

Abu Marzouk was the first to head the movement’s political bureau after its founding in 1987, and the arrest of its leaders in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in 1989. Meshaal was chosen as president of the political bureau in 1996, after Abu Marzouk was arrested [and detained] in the United States for two years.

Both Meshaal and Abu Marzouk are pragmatic, which indicates that the movement will continue in its current track during the next stage.

Many see Meshaal’s exit from the movement’s leadership as a big loss due to his long experience in the leadership and his national and regional relations. At the same time, Abu Marzouk’s return to head the movement – should that happen – is seen as a continuation of the movement’s long career.

Meshaal, who has led Hamas since 1996 from various Arab capitals, told Hamas leaders in Cairo last week that he does not intend to stay in office, and that his decision not to contest the elections is final.

Al-Hayat also learned that a senior leader in the movement has entered the competition to succeed Meshaal along with Ismail Haniyeh — who heads the sacked Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip — and Abu-Marzouk.

The Hamas-affiliated sources said that “Saleh Aruri, a prominent figure in the West Bank who currently resides in Turkey, is one of the most likely candidates to assume the position.”

The sources talked about a close relationship between Meshaal and Aruri, adding that the latter enjoys wide popularity among the movement’s elements in the West Bank and outside it, as well as in some circles of the military council [within the Palestinian territories].

Aruri was held in Israeli jails for more than 17 years. He currently oversees cases relating to prisoners and heads the political unit in the West Bank. He is also seen as the “engineer” of the Palestinian prisoner exchange deal, under which Hamas released Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

AFP quoted yesterday [Sept. 25] Hamas officials as saying that Meshaal will not run for office again. A Hamas official — speaking on the condition of anonymity — said that Meshaal “has apparently decided not to run for the presidency of the political bureau, and has informed the members of the political bureau and a number of leaders about his decision at a meeting held in Cairo this month.”

He added: “Certainly, the final decision will be made by the Hamas leadership,” and did not provide further details.

The meeting was attended by a number of Hamas leaders from the Gaza Strip, including former Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.

This confirms the announcement of Hamas political bureau member Izzat al-Rishq that Meshaal “has reiterated that his nomination for the presidency of the movement's political bureau in the upcoming session was not approved.”