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Friday, October 17, 2008

Iranians, Saudis competing for influence with Hamas

GAZA CITY — The Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip has been divided between rival factions and foreign sponsors.

Palestinian sources said the division pits supporters of Iran against those of Saudi Arabia. The sources said after a decline of more than five years, Saudi supporters were making a comeback in Hamas.

"The Saudi faction is really the Sunni faction that opposes Iranian domination of Palestine," a Palestinian source said. "They are starting to gain power in the local Hamas leadership."

[On Oct. 15, the Hamas regime announced the arrest of 13 of its members by the Palestinian Authority. The arrests were said to have taken place in the West Bank cities of Hebron, Kalkilya, Nablus and Ramallah.]

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In late July 2008, Hamas held secret elections for the Shura Council, meant to advise the leadership and draft strategy. The council approved Hamas's participation in Palestinian Legislative Council elections in 2006, in which the ruling Fatah movement was routed. The council was meant to hold elections every three years.

The sources said Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a Saudi backer, was elected to the 60-member body, as well as the political bureau. They said Haniyeh's election was regarded as a watershed for the anti-Iranian faction in Hamas.

"This was an election in which more than 40,000 people voted so Haniyeh's victory was regarded as a significant achievement for the Sunni faction," the source said.

The sources said Haniyeh won more votes than any other contender. They did not provide figures.

Hamas has acknowledged that the council, said to convene twice a year, underwent recent elections limited to the Gaza Strip. But the movement, citing security considerations, has refused to announce the winners.

"They are often elected from political and military bodies," Hamas spokesman Salah Al Bardawil said.

Al Bardawil said the council could be expanded by another 10 members. He said there would be separate elections in the West Bank and in Palestinian communities throughout the world.

"Each constituency has its own policies and picks appropriate dates for elections," Al Bardawil said.

The sources said Haniyeh trounced pro-Iranian members of Hamas. They cited former Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, Interior Minister Said Siyyam and Hamas military chief Ahmed Jaabari, all of whom were elected to the council and political bureau.

This was the first time military personnel were elected to the body, divided into advisory and administrative wings. In addition to Jaabari, Ahmed Ghandour and Marwan Issa were appointed to the Shura Council and political bureau.

The sources said Haniyeh has become the conduit for Saudi funding. They said Haniyeh was welcomed throughout the Arab world while Hamas chief Khaled Masha'al was forced to lower his profile amid threats of assassination by anti-Iranian forces.

Others elected to the council and political bureau were identified as Khalil Al Haya, Nizar Rayan and Issa Al Nashar. Al Nashar was a former council member who failed in previous reelection efforts. A major figure that lost the election was Jamal Abu Hashem.

Veteran Hamas members lost their positions in the latest elections. They were not identified.

The sources said Iran has been wooing Haniyeh amid his rise in stature. Palestinian sources said Haniyeh has been in contact with Iranian leaders on strategy and was invited to Teheran in 2008.

On Sept. 17, Haniyeh received a telephone call from Iranian parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, regarded as close to the leadership. The sources said Larijani urged Haniyeh to oppose any Egyptian proposal to deploy a pan-Arab force in the Gaza Strip. Iran has planned to stage rallies throughout the Muslim world to oppose the Egyptian plan.

"Haniyeh regretted that the Arab League had been ready to dispatch forces to the Gaza Strip during their recent meeting," Larijani said later.



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