RAMALLAH, 16 December 2005 — Young activists in the ruling Fatah party broke off to form their own faction, dealing a bitter blow to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of January parliamentary elections and possibly boosting the electoral prospects of Hamas.
Fatah officials were negotiating feverishly with the new faction’s leader, jailed intifada leader Marwan Barghouti, and his associates in an effort to keep them in the party.
But an associate who met Barghouti in prison yesterday, said he was adamant about not returning to Fatah for January parliamentary elections. Sufian Abu Zaydeh, who is close to Barghouti, said the new party, called “The Future,” would run separately in the Jan. 25 election.
Abbas hinted in a closed-door meeting with some of the rebels he might resign and call early presidential elections if the split is not reversed, participants said.
Abbas did not comment on the upheaval in his party, saying only that “whatever results come out of the ballot box will be accepted and legitimate.”
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Fatah list would be reworked to put young activists — and not just Barghouti — in top spots where chances of election are best.
Barghouti supporters said he was determined to contest the vote on a separate slate after Abbas stacked the top of the Fatah list with corruption-tainted old-timers, largely disregarding the results of recent primaries that young activists won.
“It’s too late,” said Kadoura Fares, a leader of the young activists. “We approved primary elections to choose our candidates, but the president did not abide by that. They went with the old system of masters and slaves, and now we are more determined to go ahead with our list.”
Barghouti, serving five life terms in an Israeli prison for alleged involvement in deadly attacks, has emerged as the most popular Fatah leader in West Bank primary elections. Former West Bank security chief Jibril Rajoub and Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan joined Barghouti in his new party, Fatah leaders said, adding weight to the list.
Young guard members said their goal was not to destroy Fatah, but to concentrate popular candidates on their list, then join forces with Fatah in a coalition government.
Barghouti’s list “will strengthen Fatah because the names on the list are well-respected by everybody,” said Salim Samhan, 23, a law student at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City who said he would vote for the breakaway list. “Fatah votes will unite in the legislature and bridge the two lists.”
Dahlan hinted that was the rebels’ intention Wednesday when he said they were still loyal to Fatah.
Barghouti’s wife, Fadwa, submitted the breakaway slate of candidates, under the name, “The Future,” to Palestinian election officials just before a midnight deadline Wednesday for parties to register candidates.
With talks continuing, election officials said Barghouti would have to decide which party to represent, and adjustments could be made until Jan. 1. While some maintained the split could strengthen Fatah, others said the fracture could help Hamas in its first parliamentary race. Hamas’ candidates list, submitted Wednesday, was topped by Ismail Haniyeh, a moderate who enjoys good relations with Palestinian leaders, in an apparent effort to appeal to mainstream voters.
