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Fatah Sinks Deeper into Disarray

[AP/Boston Herald] The Fatah Party that dominated Palestinian political life for four decades under Yasser Arafat has sunken deeper into irrelevance since Islamic Hamas militants ousted it from power 10 months ago. Its leaders are ailing or well beyond retirement age, its rank-and-file are entangled in petty infighting, and its only hope for a comeback at the polls languishes in an Israeli jail. Its weaknesses have forced Arafat's successor, Mahmoud Abbas, to try to co-opt Hamas rather than break it. "Sadly, our historic movement is dying," said Mohammed Mansour, the party's Ramallah district leader, sitting in a deserted office with broken chairs and torn posters on the walls. "Apparently, our role is over." Israel and the West see Fatah as the only Palestinian partner. But polls show Fatah would have a hard time winning if Abbas called early elections. Paradoxically, Abbas is seen as a key obstacle to change. His critics say that as Fatah chief, Abbas could have taken the first steps toward reform by calling a long-overdue party convention - the last one was 17 years ago - and by setting a date for internal elections. However, the 71-year-old Abbas does not have a strong power base in Fatah and an overhaul could further weaken his position. By leaving the old guard in power - the average age in Fatah's 16-member Central Committee is 67 - he can control the party more easily.
2006-12-01 01:00:00
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