The results are in after Hamas conducted elections last week.
The elections were held in Gaza and in other areas of the Middle East.
The Fatah, which runs Palestinian institutions in the West Bank towns of Ramallah, Jenin, Bethlehem, and Nablus, would not allow Hamas members in these areas to participate in the Hamas elections.
On Monday, the Ma’an Palestinian news agency reported Khaled Masha’al was re-elected politbureau chief of Hamas.
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Ma’an, based in Ramallah, reported Osama Hamdan, Hamas’ representative in Lebanon, was elected to replace Mohammed Nazzal on the ruling panel.
Mr. Masha’al, the head of the political bureau, has been in the position since 1997. Mr. Masha’al’s deputy, Mussa Abu Marzouk, also retained his post.
Maan said Hamas also elected an executive council. The council was said to comprise 15 members of the political bureau and 10 members of the General Consultative Council.
Elections for the Shura Council and General Consultative Council have been set for every four years. The elections were meant to establish Hamas’s administrative and political leadership.
While Hamas is defined by the United States, Canada, Australia and all members of the European Union Hamas as an illegal terrorist organization which honors anyone who will murder Jews, Hamas has built a democratic process that seems to be functioning with great efficiency. Hamas can now present itself to the West as a democratic entity, even if it is a terrorist organization.
Pundits often note Adolf Hitler came to power in democratic process.
David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com