Khaled Meshaal re-elected head of Hamas Politburo in Damascus

Mash’al reelected leader of Hamas politburo

Date: 27 / 04 / 2009  Time:  10:33

Gaza – Ma’an – Hamas leader Khalid Mash’al has been reelected the leader of the movement’s top decision-making body, the Political Bureau, for the third time, a high-ranking Hamas source disclosed on Monday. The result of secret elections held throughout the Middle East over the last several days means that Mash’al will continue to be Hamas’ highest leader for the next four years. In addition, Muhammad Nazzal, the Hamas representative in Jordan, has been replaced by Osama Hamdan, representative in Lebanon, in the political bureau. “Members of Hamas political echelon, and the General Consultative Council in the Gaza Strip left the Strip recently heading to Damascus, where the Political Bureau operates in exile, to partake in meetings and electing the new politburo which consists of 15 members,” the source said without saying when elections were held. As for elections mechanism, the sources say Hamas has lists of members who are eligible to vote. They select their representatives in local Consultative Councils in their specific regions. These councils then nominate representatives to the General Consultative Council, which is based outside of Palestine. The Political Bureau is elected by members of the General Consultative Council. The source confirmed that Muhammad Nazzal was not nominated by his local consultative council, but he was not elected to the membership of the politburo. Osama Hamdan was elected instead. No major changes were made except for replacing a few members. The Hamas source chose to avoid naming members of its politburo from the West Bank and Gaza fearing that Israel might assassinate them. Amongst members of the previous politburo were Khalid Mash’al, his deputy Mousa Abu Marzouq, Imad Al-Alami, Izzat Ar-Rashq, Sami Khatir, Muhammad Nasr, and Muhammad Nazzal. According to sources, the head of Hamas politburo must not necessarily be based in exile, but Hamas leaders prefer this because it is easier for an exiled leader to travel in the region. The late Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmad Yasin headed the politburo while living in the Gaza Strip. Mash’al was then elected before Yasin was assassinated by Israeli forces in 2004. The sources also revealed that Hamas elected an Executive Office of 25 members. This body is a narrower consultative council for the movement. The Executive Office includes all 15 members of the politburo in addition to chair of the General Consultative Council, his deputy, and the secretary. The other seven members are elected from the General Consultative Council. A few months ago, Hamas elected its local political leadership in the Gaza Strip, while in the West Bank no elections were held for what it said were security reasons. ***Get breaking news from Palestine: Click to follow Ma’an on Twitter.

Photos: Khaled Meshaal of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas speaks at a rally in support of Gaza, Damascus

Fri Feb 6, 11:27 AM ET

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal makes a speech during a rally in Damascus February 6, 2009. Islamist group Hamas will reject a long-term truce with Israel being mediated by Egypt unless the deal includes lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip, Meshaal said on Friday.REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA)

Fri Feb 6, 11:41 AM ET

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal (L) and Ramadan Shallah, head of the militant Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, attend a rally in Damascus February 6,2009. Islamist group Hamas will reject a long-term truce with Israel being mediated by Egypt unless the deal includes lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip, Meshaal said on Friday.REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA)

Fri Feb 6, 12:09 PM ET

Palestinian supporters of Hamas rally in Damascus February 6, 2009. The Islamist group Hamas will reject a long-term truce with Israel being mediated by Egypt unless the deal includes lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said on Friday.REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA)

Fri Feb 6, 11:24 AM ET

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal makes a speech during a rally in Damascus February 6, 2009. Islamist group Hamas will reject a long-term truce with Israel being mediated by Egypt unless the deal includes lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip, Meshaal said on Friday.REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA)

 

Fri Feb 6, 11:05 AM ET

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal makes a speech during a rally in Damascus February 6, 2009.The Islamist group Hamas will reject a long-term truce with Israel being mediated by Egypt unless the deal includes lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said on Friday.REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA)

Photos: Hamas politburo leader Khaled Mishaal addresses Iranian Parliament, Feb. 3

Tue Feb 3, 6:24 AM ET

Damascus-based Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal, center, accompanied by Iranian deputy parliament speaker, Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi Fard, left, arrives at the Iranian parliament to deliver a speech, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009. Mashaal thanked Iran, his militant movement’s most powerful ally, for its support during Israel’s punishing offensive in the Gaza Strip, calling the Persian nation on Monday a ‘partner in victory’ over the Israelis.(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Tue Feb 3, 7:12 AM ET

Damascus-based Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal, center, delivers a speech at the Iranian parliament, as speaker Ali Larijani, right, and presiding board member, Mousa Qorbani, left, look on, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009. Mashaal thanked Iran, his militant movement’s most powerful ally, for its support during Israel’s punishing offensive in the Gaza Strip, calling the Persian nation on Monday a ‘partner in victory’ over the Israelis.(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Tue Feb 3, 7:02 AM ET

Damascus-based Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal, right, delivers a speech at the Iranian parliament, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009. Mashaal thanked Iran, his militant movement’s most powerful ally, for its support during Israel’s punishing offensive in the Gaza Strip, calling the Persian nation on Monday a ‘partner in victory’ over the Israelis.(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Tue Feb 3, 6:16 AM ET

Damascus-based Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal, center right, is greeted by the Iranian lawmakers after delivering a speech at the Iranian parliament, in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009. Mashaal thanked Iran, his militant movement’s most powerful ally, for its support during Israel’s punishing offensive in the Gaza Strip, calling the Persian nation on Monday a ‘partner in victory’ over the Israelis.(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)