Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Arafat’s Death Handed over to Succeeding Leadership, Elections on Saturday | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Analysts have expressed concern about the timing of the congress, with political tensions running high [Thaer Ganaim/ Getty Images]


Ramallah- The Fatah-led Palestine congress ended its sessions for government committees, after extensive revision of the work achieved over the last few years.

The doors for running for central posts at the Fatah movement have opened again, soon after meetings concluded. Elections will take place on Saturday- so long that the events are not extended for another day.

Fatah senior member Baker Abu Baker said that the reports of 14 different committees were reviewed at the meetings registering agreement, argument and evaluation of presented reports and recommendations. Most criticisms demanded that the recommendations be modified.

“Some of the most prominent reports brought forward, revolved on topics of politics and national interests, in addition to the internal makeup of the Fatah movement,”Abu Baker told Ashaqr Al-Awsat newspaper.

He added that a specialized committee for regulating and motivating popular resistance within the movement has been formed– in addition to an annexed legal body that will attend legislation and the implementation of election mechanisms.

When asked about the reasons behind not discussing the death of former Fatah leader Yasser Arafat, Abu Baker said that the discussion was supposed to take place. He added that the investigatory committee led by Brig. Gen Tawfik Tirawi had presented the report, in addition to the transition of its work under the future Fatah administration.

“The subject was brought up during congress, however, it was passed on to the new leadership,” Abu Baker said.

The Fatah politician refused to give further detail as to why the investigatory body’s report was removed from activity schedule.

“The central committee has castoff the file in fear of the outbreak of chaos during congress,” well-informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The investigatory body’s efforts have been a recent cause for controversy with wild claims coming on shortcoming, and even further than that,” sources said.

“More so, the matter on maintaining confidentiality, the report could not be exposed before a crowd of 1,400 members,” sources added.

Up to 1,400 invited members attending congress will design the movement’s strategy for the next five years. The congress also elected Fatah’s 23-member Central Committee, presided by Abbas, and its 132-member Revolutionary Council.