Revolt within Fatah?
What if they held an 'election' within Fatah and 'moderate' 'Palestinian' PresidentPalestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is a failed leader who is incapable of taking the right decision at the right time, a senior Fatah official said over the weekend.I assume that what Shaheen is suddenly condemning is Fatah's failure to fight Hamas last June. Perhaps he was inspired by what he sees as the Winograd Commission's report that Israel's Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert failed to fight Hezbullah in Lebanon.
Abu Ali Shaheen, a veteran member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council and a former PA minister, accused Abbas and the political leadership of Fatah of abandoning their men during the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip last June.
He is the first Fatah official to publicly criticize Abbas following Hamas's violent seizure of the Gaza Strip.
His allegations drew strong condemnations from the Fatah leadership in Ramallah.
"There's no such thing as a failed soldier," Shaheen said in remarks published by the Al-Arabiya.net Web site. "Abbas and the political leaders of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority were not there when Hamas staged its coup. But this did not prevent them from demanding a military victory from their men."
He added: "In this case, we're not only talking about a failed officer, but a failed leader as well. Abbas is lacking the ability to take the appropriate decision at the right historical moment."
Shaheen also lashed out at Abbas's closest aides, accusing them of failing to fulfill their duty in giving the PA president good advice in the aftermath of the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip.
He pointed out that at the peak of the crisis with Hamas, the Fatah leadership decided to dispatch a high-level delegation to the Gaza Strip, but only one official, Intisar al-Wazir [Um Jihad] arrived there. "She was left alone to handle the crisis and confront Hamas," he said. "It's strange that none of the other Fatah leaders made an effort to go to the Gaza Strip."
Shaheen also accused unnamed Fatah leaders of "collusion" with Hamas, noting that most of them had refrained from coming out in public against Hamas.
"If some of our leaders are indeed so naive, then they should not be leading us," he added. "Those who fail to see the reality as it is are not worthy of leading. It's time for them to go away. Their continued presence in power is causing tremendous damage."
He also attacked Hamas, accusing the Islamist movement of operating on instructions from Teheran.
In response to the allegations, Hakam Bala'awi, a senior Fatah leader closely affiliated with Abbas, said Shaheen was an "arrogant" man with a "sick mind." He also dismissed Shaheen's claim that some Fatah leaders were in collusion with Hamas.
"Shaheen does not listen to or see anyone but himself," Bala'awi said. "That's why he didn't hear President Abbas's statements about the Hamas coup all these months. The president's statements reflect the views of the entire Fatah leadership."
As to Bala'awi, I have not heard the Fatah 'leadership' say anything other than that Hamas should apologize and give control of Gaza back to Fatah. Unless they are forced to do so, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to happen.
For those of you who are not familiar with the name "Um Jihad," I suggest that you go here to learn about her. Here's a preview:
The 66-year-old Um Jihad was the first female member of Fatah, joining the group in 1959 and establishing herself through the years as one of the most prominent women in the PA.Nice characters, eh?
The “mother of the fight” – the meaning of her Arabic nom de guerre - was elected in 1995 to the Palestinian Legislative Council, also serving as the Minister of Social Affairs. She became the PA Minister for Social Welfare in 2003.
Um Jihad is the widow of a prominent terrorist. Her husband, Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad), was a close associate of the late PLO Chairman and arch terrorist Yasser Arafat. Al-Wazir was also the co-founder of Fatah and leader of the first intifada. He was tracked down in 1988 and eliminated by Israeli agents at his home in Tunisia.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:24 AM
1 Comments:
The weak Abbas has been the weak Olmert's alibi for clinging to power. My guess would be if he goes, Olmert becomes the Emperor Without Clothes.
Israeli and American "peace" policy - and this is the irony - depends on one man who doesn't even command the support of his entire people and its not at all certain how much support he has actually has within Fatah itself.
What a nice character critical to the survival of Israel's government.
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