The election of members of Fatah’s parliament and its central committee beginning Friday will signal the direction the oldest Palestinian party will take at a time when Abbas is weakened by his own unpopularity and internal dissent.
Some analysts see the congress as an attempt by Abbas to marginalize political opponents, including longtime rival Mohammed Dahlan, currently in exile in the United Arab Emirates.
Saeb Erekat, Palestine Liberation Organization secretary general and Fatah central committee member, said the congress will allow the party to “choose leaders for the next stage.”
Abbas’ Fatah opens first congress since 2009
29 November 2016
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Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party opened its first congress in seven years Tuesday as the 81-year-old seeks to fend off opponents while talk of who will eventually succeed him mounts.
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