Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — Hamas has suspended elections for a new leadership in November amid the missile war with Israel and has been examining a proposal to postpone elections for at least another year.

Several Arab countries are also said to have hampered Hamas election
efforts. The sources cited Saudi Arabia, a former supporter and host of a
large Palestinian presence.

“The Saudis no longer see Hamas as an ally — rather a proxy of Iran,”
the source said.

The sources said this would pave the way for political bureau chief Khaled Masha’al to continue in his post.

“Egypt wants Masha’al to continue for the indefinite future, and other
Hamas allies, particularly Qatar and Turkey, are in agreement,” the source said.

The sources said Masha’al has been urged to withdraw his plans to resign from the political bureau. They said Egypt has determined that Masha’al remained the only leader who could reach a consensus within Hamas in wake of the Israeli assassination of military chief Ahmed Jabari.

“There are difficulties reaching a consensus regarding both policy and

personalities,” a Palestinian source said.

The sources said Hamas completed elections in the Gaza Strip, the West
Bank and Egypt. They said elections in most Arab states, particularly
Lebanon and Syria, were stalled because of the Sunni revolt against
President Bashar Assad.

  ‘proxy of Iran’, Ahmed Jabari, Gaza Strip, leaving Masha’al in power, Saudis block Hamas elections