Meshal Reelected Hamas Politburo Chief

Khaled Meshal was reelected Hamas political chief on Monday, in a unanimous vote by the Islamic militant movement’s political bureau and Shura Council.

• Meshal Makes Historic Gaza Visit
• Meshal: Hamas OKs Two-state Solution

The reelection comes despite past declarations by Meshal that he intended to step down and would not run for the position again.

Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh and deputy politburo chief Moussa Abu Marzouk had expressed desire to run for the Hamas top post, according to reports from Cairo, where Hamas representatives from both the Gaza Strip and abroad are meeting in a luxury hotel this week.

However, due to Egyptian and internal pressure, it was decided that Meshal would remain in the position. Haniyeh will continue to lead the movement in Gaza, while Meshal will be the organization’s general leader, the organization’s leadership decided.

Egyptian officials reported that the head of the Egyptian Military Intelligence, Rafet Shahata, and other senior officials from the Muslim Brotherhood were party to the election talks. Among other things, they addressed the elections’ implications for Hamas’ relations with Fatah and the Palestinian Authority.