RAMALLAH, 28 November 2004 — New PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas emerged yesterday as the clear frontrunner to replace Yasser Arafat after jailed West Bank Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti vowed not to run in January’s presidential election.
Barghouti’s decision, taken in his Israeli prison cell and announced late Friday, headed off a potentially destructive rift in the Palestinian dominant Fatah movement, leaving Abbas as the top candidate in the poll due in six weeks.
“Members and supporters of Fatah (must) support the movement’s candidate, the combatant, brother Mahmoud Abbas,” said the firebrand in a statement read by minister without portfolio Kadoura Fares.
Speculation had been rife that the charismatic Barghouti, serving five life sentences for murder, would formally announce his decision to stand — posing a direct challenge to Abbas.
“This (move) reflects the fact that Marwan Barghouti is a real and unique leader,” said Ahmed Ghneim, a senior Fatah official in the West Bank.
“In taking his decision, he meant to maintain unity inside Fatah and among all Palestinians,” he said. Although most Fatah officials were largely relieved to have avoided an open conflict, some were deflated.
“We are disappointed. We wanted Marwan to run... but we will stick to his decision and to the decisions of Fatah,” said another senior Fatah official, Jamal Lafi. Preparations for the Jan. 9 elections continued yesterday amid reports that a Palestinian delegation headed by national security adviser Jibril Rajoub was due in Britain next week for “private” talks with senior Israeli officials.
Although the talks were branded as unofficial, the two sides would discuss security arrangements for the forthcoming election and Israel’s plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported.
Meanwhile, Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei arrived in Cairo late yesterday ahead of talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that are expected to focus on the upcoming election and the stalled peace process.
The two leading lights in the interim Palestinian leadership are set to meet Mubarak today, Egyptian officials said.
The Palestinian leadership has liaised closely with Egypt in recent months about the aftermath of Israel’s planned Gaza withdrawal next year.
