Meshaal to step down after 16 years in Hamas

Head of Hamas Politburo Khaled Meshaal has officially confirmed that he will not run again in the coming elections. Ezzat Al Rashq, member of Hamas Politburo, said on his Facebook account: “During the last meeting of Hamas Politburo, Khaled Meshaal insisted that he will not accept another nomination. He explained that he wants new blood to pump inside the veins of the leadership and to adjust to the spirit of the Arab Spring.” Meshaal also asserted, according to Rashq: “By the end of the current regulatory session, I will leave my position, but not my role. I will continue my work to serve our people, our cause and our blessed movement and its liberation target.” Khaled Meshaal took over the leadership of the Hamas Politburo 16 years ago, in the hardest conditions and the most difficult challenges which the movements were able to face and achieve its best. Khaled Mashaal was said to be getting “impatient” with some of the movement leaders in Gaza, diplomatic sources revealed. Political sources also reported that the head of the Hamas Politburo had lost all patience regarding the political challenges set by the Hamas leadership in Gaza and that he wouldn’t run for a re-election in the current internal elections in the movement. A source close to Hamas said that Mashaal told Hamas officials during their meeting in Cairo last week that he is not planning to keep his position and that his decision not to run for the elections was definite. The source added that Mashaal told them to choose another leader. A diplomatic source said that Mashaal’s stance came as some leaders in Gaza have attempted lately to hinder decision he had made in the interest of the movement. The source added that Mashaal is sharper about global politics and more realistic than Hamas leaders who only live in the Gaza Strip. The source believes it is likely that the leader will be pressured by the leadership and some Arab countries to run for the elections before the final vote, the date of which remains unknown. A source said that Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Gaza government, and Moussa Abu Marzouq, who lead Hamas in the early nineties, are among the most likely candidates to succeed Mashaal. Informed Palestinian sources said that the issue of the presidency of the Hamas Politburo was not decided on yet, and that the names rumoured in the media were not accurate. The source, who preferred to remain anonymous, added in an exclusive word to Falastin al-Aan or Palestine Now website (paltimes.net) – known to be close to Hamas – that Khaled Mashaal clarified to the Shura Council several times that he doesn’t wish to continue leading the politburo and that he wants new blood that contributes to taking Hamas forward. In the interview, the source said that references to disagreements between the movement’s leaders as the reason of Khaled Mashaal’s resignation were “funny” and asserted that the movement leadership is determined through elections inside the different institutions of the movement and that Mashaal’s resignation will not undermine his political value and status among the movement members. In a related context, informed sources said that the Muslim Brotherhood leadership and supreme leader told Khaled Mashaal that he should take a leading position in the international branch of the organisation - especially as all restrictions on the group were lifted after the fall of former dictatorships and as the group reaped the presidency in Egypt, Tunisia and a special position in Libya. The sources affirmed that the Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badea plans to assign Khaled Mashaal as a deputy, maybe a second deputy which would be why Mashaal decided not to run for the Hamas leadership again. The sources denied circulated news about disagreements behind Mashaal’s decision and clarified that some oppose Mashaal in the politburo but matters have not reached toppling him or turning against him. The sources also affirmed that the politburo elections will be no later than the end of October and then the name of Khaled’s successor would be announced to everyone. Apparently, news about Mashaal’s resignation came after reports of disagreements and clash between Hamas leaders in Gaza and Damascus concerning the Syrian crisis as Mashaal preferred to withdraw from the fight after these clashes. Khaled Mashaal became head of the Hamas politburo after the assassination of movement founder sheikh Ahmed Yassin and his successor Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi. Mashaal was subject to an assassination attempt with poison by Mossad agents in the Jordanian capital Amman. Jordanian security agencies were able to arrest the Mossad agents who carried out the operation and pressured Israel to give the antitoxin to the poison, saving Khaled Mashaal’s life. In a press statement Bardawil said: “Hamas leadership positions are considered mandate and not honours. Hamas Politburo Chief, Khaled Mashaal has done very well in his 16 years leading the movement in difficult conditions.”