FATAH CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING: FEW RESULTS, LOTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 003893

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE, NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG PHUM IS
SUBJECT: FATAH CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING: FEW RESULTS, LOTS
OF CRITICISM


Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. The August 23-25 meeting of the Fatah
Central Committee (FCC) in Amman produced few if any results.
Participants stated publicly that no firm date has been set
for the Sixth Fatah Congress, but announced ongoing efforts
to field representatives. Separately, FCC sources said the
Committee approved PA President Mahmoud Abbas' (Abu Mazen)
efforts to pursue a national unity government. FCC member
Ahmad Quraya' (Abu Ala'a),who had just returned from Amman,
told the Consul General on August 29 that the results were
mixed. In conversations with ConGenoffs on August 28, Fatah
grassroots members expressed doubt that the Congress would be
held anytime soon and dismay at the lack of progress at the
FCC meeting, noting that the senior leadership seems geared
toward delaying any progress toward leadership change.
Jibril Rajoub also dismissed the whole exercise as "a farce"
in speaking with the Consul General. End summary.

FCC Meeting
--------------


2. (C) The Fatah Central Committee (FCC) held a three-day
meeting in Amman, August 23-25, to discuss the internal
Palestinian situation and preparation for the Sixth Fatah
Congress. (Note: The last Fatah party congress was convened
in 1989. End note.) FCC participants, including Nabil
Sh'ath, told the media that no specific date had been set for
the congress, but the FCC had nevertheless agreed to continue
work toward selecting representatives from the geographic
districts in the West Bank and Gaza in order to hold the
congress in early 2007.

Abu Ala'a: Muted on
Sixth Congress
--------------


3. (C) During an August 29 meeting with the Consul
General, former PA Prime Minister and FCC member Ahmad
Quraya' (Abu Ala'a) was muted in his evaluation of the
meeting. "It was not good, but it was not bad," Abu Ala'a
said. (Comment: This lukewarm description is probably the
most positive that we have heard from any contacts. End
comment.) The key issue under discussion was the setting a
date for the Sixth Congress. Despite a serious discussion on
the matter, Abu Ala'a said participants could not agree on
timing. He indicated that, by November 30, all documents and
preparations for the congress should be in place and a date
could be set. At that stage, the FCC would reconvene to
decide where and when to hold the Sixth Congress, most likely
next March or April. Abu Ala'a did acknowledge that the aim
of the congress would be to reform the FCC by electing new
members.

Fatah Grassroots and
Revolutionary Council Unconvinced
--------------


4. (C) During an August 28 meeting with ConGen officers in
Ramallah, Fatah legislative and grassroots leaders -- all of
whom are critical of the FCC -- expressed doubt that there
would be a Sixth Congress anytime soon. Former PLC member
Qaddura Faris indicated that he had little hope that the FCC
would announce a date for the congress, let alone stick to
it. He acknowledged that there is considerable cynicism
among the rank and file Fatah members on the sincerity of the
senior Fatah leadership to hold elections. He also noted
that considerable work lay ahead to hold the congress,
including holding district elections for party delegates in
the West Bank, Gaza, and outside and establishing a political
platform for the congress. Another key decision would be the
venue for the congress, which Faris indicated may be held
simultaneously in separate locations in Gaza, the West Bank,
and elsewhere. Faris also said he thought the way ahead for
Fatah would lie in rebuilding its connections to the
Palestinian population and reviving a grassroots base.


5. (C) In an August 29 meeting with the Consul General,
Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC) member Jibril Rajoub
expressed his complete disgust with the FCC members, whom he
described as without any "national devotion or commitment."
He saw no reason that Abu Mazen should listen to them and
suggested half of them should be in "VIP rooms at an Egyptian
psychiatric hospital." He dismissed the likelihood that the
FCC would change or expand its membership; e.g., to include
some of the young guard. He said he prefers to rebuild Fatah
from the inside from the ground up. He anticipated there
might be a response along these lines from the FRC.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) Seven months after Fatah's debacle in the January
legislative council elections, Fatah seems no closer to
instituting institutional changes. The lack of urgency among
the senior members -- most of whom are 70 years and above --
and their predilection to postpone the Sixth Congress into
next year is likely driven by their unwillingness to cede
power to a younger cadre of Fatah leaders. The lack of
progress on preparations for the Sixth Congress has
underscored the central dysfunction that represents Fatah
today, namely, a frozen leadership unprepared to reform.

WALLES