RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is pushing for leadership elections in his Fatah movement and the PLO before the end of the year, as part of what senior officials say is largely an elaborate attempt to block the return of an exiled rival backed by several Arab states. Abbas's decision to hold such elections is a response to growing Arab pressure to take back Mohammed Dahlan, a former top aide and millionaire businessman who in exile forged close ties with leaders of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the region. The Palestinian president was jolted into action several weeks ago, when the so-called Arab Quartet — pro-Western, majority- Sunni Muslim states Egypt, Jordan, Saudia Arabia and the UAE — presented a "road map" to Abbas for reviving frozen peace talks with Israel. Abbas was livid and countered that Arab leaders should stop meddling in internal Palestinian affairs — rare public criticism of Arab allies by a leader whose people depend on Arab financial and diplomatic support. Abbas repeatedly delayed the convention, both because Dahlan was still enjoying strong support and because the Palestinian leader had no strong interest in making changes. [...] many Dahlan followers have been purged from Fatah.