Hamas Political Bureau leader to be elected in next 10 days
17/05/2012
By Ali El-Saleh
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=29659

London, Asharq Al-Awsat – The elections for the Hamas Consultative Council
and Shura Council have been completed, leaving only the election of the
Hamas Political Bureau, as well as the Political Bureau leadership. These
elections are held every 4 years, and are expected to be completed within
the next 10 days.

Leading Hamas figure Ahmed Yousef informed Asharq Al-Awsat that current
Political Bureau chief Khalid Mishal is most likely to remain in this post,
which he has occupied since 1996. Mishal succeeded Mousa Abu Marzook as
Hamas chief after Abu Marzook was forced to resign after being arrested in
New York in 1995.

Ahmed Yousef, who is a senior adviser to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail
Haniyeh, revealed that the elections ended last week, and their results will
remain secret.

Responding to a report published by the Israeli Haaretz newspaper that
Haniyeh won a majority of the votes but that Mishal would remain as Hamas
chief, although he would no longer be in charge of the military budget,
leading Hamas figure Salah al-Bardawil said “this is a form of Zionist
delusion which does not merit discussion…this is pure fabrication whose sole
aim is to entice Hamas to respond and reveal its cards to the media. We
stress that the Hamas elections are secret, and we comprehensively reject
any interference in this issue” adding “we are under occupation."

Yousef informed Asharq Al-Awsat that Hamas has completed its Consultative
Council and Shura Council elections, revealing that local Consultative
Councils are selected, who in turn vote for the Hamas Shura Council, which
ultimately elects the movement’s administrative leadership, the Hamas
Political Bureau. Yousef refused to reveal the number of members on the
Hamas Political Bureau, as well as the number of Hamas members elected to
the local Consultative Council and Shura Council, stressing these are part
of the Palestinian movement’s secrets and cannot be revealed.

The senior Hamas adviser, who is known for his bold statements, also told
Asharq Al-Awsat that Mishal is most likely to be re-elected as Hamas
Political Bureau chief, although he is facing competition from his rival and
deputy Mousa Abu Marzook. Yousef stressed that the election of the Hamas
Political Bureau will take place during a Hamas Shura Council meeting that
will be held soon, but refused to reveal precisely where or when this will
take place.

The Hamas Shura Council met in January in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.
During this meeting, Mishal announced that he did not want to seek
re-election as Hamas Political Bureau chief; however his request was
reportedly rejected by the Hamas Shura Council who insisted he should remain
in this post for another term. Sudan was subject to international pressure
for hosting the Hamas Shura Council meeting and Khartoum rejected a Hamas
request to hold a second Shura Council meeting on Sudanese territory. The
last Hamas Shura Council meeting was held in Cairo in late March, in order
to arrange the precise details of the elections.

Well-informed sources expect the first session of the new Hamas Shura
Council to be held either in Cairo or Doha. Mousa Abu Marzook has chosen
Cairo as a base, whilst Mishal has set himself up in Doha, after Hamas left
Damascus following the recent developments in Syria.