Fatah Dissidents Openly Oppose Abbas

The Middle East Newsline reports that dissidents from the ruling Fatah movement have begun to openly oppose the continued rule of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.

The dissidents have called for the replacement of Mr. Abbas and his aides even before elections are held for the PA or Fatah.

They said Mr. Abbas, encouraged by Israel and the United States, has violated repeated pledges to hold a conference that would elect a new Fatah leadership.

“The Fatah leadership has squandered all the achievements of our faction and trampled our history with its shoes,” Palestinian Legislative Council member Hussam Khader said. “All the Fatah leaders are responsible for the destruction of Fatah.”

Mr. Khader has begun organizing dissidents to oppose Mr. Abbas as head of Fatah and the PA. The dissidents, who have called for the resignation of Fatah’s Central Committee and Revolutionary Council, have accused Mr. Abbas and his senior ministers of cooperating with Israel during the war with Hamas in January 2009.

“The Israeli occupation has never harmed them or threatened them or their interests,” Mr. Khader, in reference to Israel, said. “The occupation has given them many privileges.”

Mr. Abbas has repeatedly pledged to convene the general conference of Fatah, which would pave the way for elections in the movement.

The Bulletin asked a visiting delegation of six U.S. senators and congressmen led by U.S. Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., whether they would raise allegations of human rights abuse with Palestinian Authority leader Salaam Fayad.

They said that they would do so.

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com