July 30th, 2009 by Blake

Since Yasser Arafat’s death in 2004, writes Mohammed Herzallah in Newsweek online, power struggles in Fatah have consistently undermined Palestinian unity and encouraged resentment for President Mahmoud Abbas. “Things came to a head last week,” writes Herzallah, when senior PLO and Fatah member Farouk Qaddumi pointed to Abbas and his national security advisor Mohammed Dahlen as having conspired with Israel to assassinate Arafat.

Such accusations amid top Fatah leadership reveal serious rifts in Palestinian leadership.  Abbas has taken extreme measures to refute the charge, even banning al-Jazeera for covering the story.  Another rift, Herzallah cites, is among those who back Abbas’ unyielding position on Hamas, and those who want to see unity.  Among the Fatah ranks there is an increasingly popular mentality that the conflict with Hamas undercuts the credibility of the Palestinian cause.  Herzallah writes that Qaddumi attacking the President’s legitimacy could “empower Hamas and steer it toward a position of dominance in Palestinian politics,” which would kill any likelihood of Israel accepting Palestinian statehood.

UPDATE: Several Fatah and Hamas leaders in Gaza said today that they were threatened and barred by Abbas from attending the party’s 6th Conference, and called for and end to the infighting within the Palestinian Authority.

Posted in Hamas, Israel, Palestine, Political Parties |