[Economist-UK ] The charter of Fatah, the more secular of the two main Palestinian political parties, says that unless there are "exceptional circumstances," a general party congress must be held every five years. The last one was in 1989. Fatah's election defeat in 2006 by its Islamist rival, Hamas, owed a lot to splits in Fatah between a cabal of leaders clinging to power and various factions of a "young guard" that is already far from young. Mahmoud Abbas' term as president and Fatah head was due to end next January, but he has extended it by means of a decree tying the presidential poll to a parliamentary one, due a year later. Hamas does not recognize the decree. Fatah is also starting to divide over reconciliation with Hamas. Among the older generation of Fatah, hatred of Hamas runs deep.
2008-06-27 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive