Official says election "showed wonderful face of democracy in Hamas;" no change in Israel policy.
By JPOST.COM STAFFHaniyeh says hi 248 88 AP(photo credit: AP [file])
A Hamas internal ballot has re-elected the group's main leaders and led to no change in policy, Reuters reported Tuesday.
According to a Hamas official quoted in the report, the secret ballot was held last month, and news of it was stifled for security reasons.
"The election showed the wonderful face of democracy within Hamas. It was carried out smoothly," the official was quoted as saying. "Our goals are clear and we have a policy that does not change, and that is there can be no recognition of Israel."
Senior figures Ismail Haniyeh, Mahmoud al-Zahar and Saeed Seyam were re-elected, though some veteran politicians had lost their seats to younger candidates, the official said.
The official went on to say that Hamas still aimed to end divisions with Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, and to continue "resistance" against Israel.
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