Once again, Israel determined who became the head of Hamas. In Cairo this Monday [April 1], Khaled Meshaal was elected unanimously to head the movement’s political bureau and to be the leader who ultimately determines its policies.
At a conference of the political bureau members in Khartoum just over a year ago, Meshaal announced that he would not run for the position again, effectively announcing his retirement. “I’m tired,” he said, “but I will continue serving as a loyal soldier in Hamas’ army of reservists.” The truth is that at that particular moment in time, Meshaal had plenty of reasons to announce his retirement, but none of them had to do with exhaustion. It makes much more sense to assume that he thought he would lose, given opposition by the movement’s leaders in Gaza to the diplomatic strategies he pursued.
