At the VI Congress of Fatah (Palestine Liberation Movement), about two and a half thousand of its delegates yesterday elected its governing bodies within ten hours. This is the parliament of the party, known as the Revolutionary Council, and the Central Committee is its executive body. The unprecedented rivalry confirmed the opinion of the head of the Fatah press service, Nabil Amr, that as a result of the congress, “a significant renewal of the ranks of the movement, new ideas and a comprehensive intensification of work are expected, given the approaching general elections scheduled for January 2010.” 104 candidates, including six women, competed for 21 seats on the Central Committee. For 80 mandates subject to rotation in the 128-seat Revolutionary Council, there were as many as 650 candidates, including 50 women. Due to the lengthy process of agreeing on candidates, including many young people, the work of the congress (it began in Bethlehem on August 4 and was supposed to end at the end of last week) was extended until August 11.
“The 6th Congress launched the revival of the party created by Yasser Arafat 55 years ago,” Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, 74, who was re-elected uncontested as leader of the movement for a second five-year term, told delegates. He assured the Palestinians that he would “lead the people to independence, overcome divisions and restore national harmony.” Another problem he promises to tackle is internal party corruption. It became the reason for the defeat that Fatah suffered in the 2006 elections from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). A military defeat followed in 2007, leading to the Islamists seizing power in the Gaza Strip.
