Hamas said Masha'al, 53, was elected chief of the movement's political
bureau by more than 500 members. This marked Masha'al's fourth term in
office, scheduled to expire in 2013.
Masha'al's deputy, Mussa Abu Marzouk, also retained his post. For his
part, Masha'al said he would seek to build relations with the United States.
Hamas said several representatives in the West Bank were also elected to
the politbureau. But the movement did not identify them.
The movement has also established a so-called executive council. The
council, meant to advise, contains 25 representatives, including members of
the politbureau.
The political bureau does not contain Mohammed Nazzal, replaced by
Hamas's representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan. Nazzal was said to have
opposed any dialogue with the Fatah movement, led by Palestinian Authority
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
In 2008, Hamas held elections for its Consultative Council in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. Many of those elected were said to be military
commanders aligned with Iran.
Hamas sources said the new Consultative Council, also called the Shura
Council, was dominated by the military wing. They said Hamas Prime Minister
Ismail Haniyeh, regarded as close to Saudi Arabia, would have little control
of the 10-member council despite receiving the most number of votes.
The council contains such commanders as Atallah Abu Al Sabah, Majdi
Baba, Yusef Farhat, Osama Hamad, Fuad Nahal, Issa Nashar, Salem Salameh and
Abu Ayman Taha. Two allies of Haniyeh, Ghazi Hamad and Ahmed Yusef, refused
to run for the Shura Council.
Haniyeh was expected to be the prime minister in such a government.
Zahar and Al Haya were slated to become senior ministers.