FATAH SIXTH PARTY CONGRESS BEGINS; PROSPECTS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001345

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2019
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SUBJECT: FATAH SIXTH PARTY CONGRESS BEGINS; PROSPECTS FOR
SUCCESS UNCERTAIN

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


1. (C) Summary and Comment: The Sixth Fatah Congress began
the morning of August 4 in Bethlehem. Abu Mazen delivered a
two-hour address to delegates and foreign dignitaries,
summarizing Fatah's history but breaking little new ground.
Meanwhile, the real drama played out the evening before in an
impromptu meeting of the Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC)
and other Fatah leaders, where participants debated the issue
of how to address the absence of Gaza-based delegates in
leadership elections planned for the Congress' final day.
The FRC punted the decision to an emergency committee; some
Gaza delegates who were able to attend the Congress
threatened a walkout. Organizers plan to circulate the draft
political program as early as the evening of August 4. With
key issues still in flux, it is too early to tell if the
Congress will ultimately strengthen Fatah, or Abu Mazen
himself. End Summary and Comment.

Inaugural Session: Geriatrics and Flat Rhetoric
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2. (C) The inaugural session of the Sixth Fatah Congress
convened the morning of August 4 in Bethlehem, in the
basketball gymnasium of the Terra Santa school. Delegates
and foreign observers (representatives of local diplomatic
missions and foreign political parties) entered the
well-organized but austere venue around 9:00 a.m. to hear a
rousing opening by FCC member and Preparatory Committee head
Abu Ala'a, the Palestinian anthem, a convocatory prayer, and
a convocatory address by Abu Mazen. The Consul General,
Polchief, and PolSpec represented the U.S. The atmosphere
was more assisted living than "national liberation," as even
the so-called "young guard" representatives appeared to be
approaching their golden years.


3. (C) Abu Mazen's two-hour speech (which he delivered in his
capacity as Fatah's General Commander) reviewed the history
of the movement from Fatah's history in Jordan, Beirut, and
Tunis through the present day. He interwove contemporary
themes into the narrative, such as Fatah's success in
legitimizing the Palestinian cause internationally, criticism
of Israeli occupation, and frustration with Hamas for
preventing Gaza delegates from attending. On the peace
process, he admitted the failures of past negotiations and
criticized the GOI for continued roadmap violations. Abu
Mazen spoke about the movement's historical involvement in
"armed struggle" as well as its "choice of peace" via the
PLO. He said, "our adherence to the choice of peace does not
mean that we stand incapable or crippled in front of the
continuation of the destructive practices of the peace
process... we retain our genuine right (to) legitimate
resistance, guaranteed by international law." In the end,
the speech covered little new ground, and by the midpoint Abu
Mazen had lost much of his audience to quiet chatter and
texting.

Gaza Delegates Issue Hangs Over Conference
--------------


4. (C) The real story of the Congress transpired the night
before, when much of the Fatah senior leadership departed the
welcome reception for an impromptu late-night meeting with
members of the FRC. Participants approved several hundred
last-minute appeals from prospective delegates, bringing the
final tally to 2,267. However, discussions stalemated over
how to address the absence of most Gaza-based delegates due
to a Hamas decision to prevent their travel. Several FRC
members told PolSpec that Abu Mazen tabled a proposal to set
aside for the Gazans six of twenty-one FCC seats and
thirty-five of the remaining ninety-nine FRC seats during
elections on August 7, the final day of the Congress.
Another group, led by FCC member Nasir al-Qidwa, argued to
postpone leadership elections for one year to allow for Gaza
participation. Both Abu Mazen and Abu Ala'a strongly
rejected this proposal. After lengthy discussion and intense
arguments, our sources said the FRC tasked an emergency
committee to examine possible solutions to the impasse over
the next twenty-four hours. FRC member Azzam al Ahmed told
PolSpec he doubts the committee will succeed in resolving the
problem. He added that the Gaza delegates are themselves
divided on this issue, with some pushing for a delay and
others supporting holding elections with a quota of seats set
aside for the Gaza delegates.


5. (C) Tensions over the issue remained evident on the
margins of the inaugural session. Participants speculated as

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to whether FRC member Mohammed Dahlan and the 150-odd Gazans
aligned with him would even attend (they did).
Dahlan-affiliated delegates Bassam Walwil and Jaffar Hadeb
told PolSpec these delegates may stage a walkout as early as
the evening session of the Congress on August 4 if the
emergency committee recommends adoption of Abu Mazen's
compromise proposal. (Comment: While there is clear sympathy
among many in Fatah over the plight of the Gaza delegates,
many attribute Dahlan's maneuvering to his shaky prospects to
win an FCC seat. Still, a walkout by the Gaza delegates
affiliated with him - most of the Gazans in attendance -
would be a serious blow to the Congress. Nonetheless, under
Fatah bylaws a quorum would still remain.)

Political Program
--------------


6. (C) Contrary to press reports, delegates told us they have
not yet received the draft political program. Foreign
invitees received copies of the original 1964 Fatah bylaws,
along with a counterpart booklet entitled "Draft Bylaws"
which appears to contain an updated charter. Interestingly,
the latter volume did not contain some problematic provisions
in the original document, such as language on armed struggle.
Conference organizers told PolSpec they plan to table the
draft political program as early as the evening session on
August 4.

Comment: Too Soon To Tell
--------------


7. (C) While the fact that the Congress opened is a victory
of sorts for Abu Mazen, the fundamental issue of how to deal
with the absence of most Gaza delegates remains unresolved,
and with it, the FCC and FRC elections and the fate of the
Congress itself. Abu Mazen's speech also struck us as a
missed opportunity. Rather than rally the faithful, he
pedantically covered well-tread ground, recycled old stories,
and did little to rally the crowd. In the process, he also
may have provided some ammunition to his detractors in
Israel. Already, FRC member Jibril Rijoub's comments to the
press - that armed struggle remains a tool at the
Palestinians' disposal - has become a key headline in the
Israeli media. It is too soon to tell whether the Fatah
Congress will ultimately strengthen Fatah - and Abu Mazen -
and it is possible the key variable - whether elections are
held - will go down to the wire.

WALLES