BICOM

Hamas confirmed yesterday that its Damascus-based leader, Khaled Meshaal, would not present his candidacy in the next election for chairman of the movement’s political bureau. Meshaal was elected chairman of the bureau in 1996, a key decision-making body and the highest authority in Hamas.

The Damascus-based leader’s decision not to seek reelection came as a surprise to some Hamas officials. One official, quoted widely in the media, said Meshaal had apparently decided to step down following sharp differences with the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip over the movement’s future strategy.

In a number of interviews to Arab media outlets in the past few weeks, the Hamas leader declared his support for a “popular resistance” against Israel. PA officials have also said that Meshaal told Abbas he supports a temporary halt in terrorism. However, while Meshaal was talking about abandoning terrorism, Hamas’ top leaders in the Gaza Strip like Ismail Haniyeh and Mahmoud Zahar, openly challenged Meshaal by calling for the continuation of armed attacks. Haniyeh and Zahar have also been opposed to Meshaal’s recent understandings with Abbas on a number of issues, including holding presidential and parliamentary elections in May.

Meshaal’s successor will be elected in a secret vote in the coming weeks, according to various news reports. At this stage, it’s not clear who will succeed Meshaal.