FATAH CONGRESS: DAHLAN'S BACK, PROGRAM IN DRAFT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 001359

SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT
STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL IS
SUBJECT: FATAH CONGRESS: DAHLAN'S BACK, PROGRAM IN DRAFT,
VOTING DELAYED

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


1. (C) Key developments on the third day of the Fatah
Congress included an apparent deal on elections and the
formation of committees to address, inter alia, the political
program and Fatah bylaws.


2. (C) After publicly threatening to boycott Fatah Central
Committee (FCC) elections over the issue of ensuring Gazan
representation in Fatah leadership bodies, Mohammed Dahlan
reached a compromise with Abu Mazen late on August 5,
according to Fatah contacts. The compromise reportedly
includes reserving six FCC seats for Gazans: three of them
will be filled in leadership elections at the Congress, and
three will be voted upon later by absent Gaza delegates.
Dahlan said on August 6, backing away from his threat, that
"creative solutions" are under discussion to address the
issue of Gaza participation.


3. (C) During the August 6 session, delegates formed 18
committees tasked with reporting back on issues ranging from
prisoners to settlements. Sources on the political committee
reported that a political program draft will circulate either
late August 6 or August 7. A separate organizational
committee with responsibility for the bylaws plans to do the
same.


4. (C) Congress Chair Othman Abu Gharbiyeh announced that
delegates can declare their candidacy for leadership
elections beginning the evening of August 6, and until the
morning of August 7. Elections are officially scheduled for
the evening of August 7, but will likely be delayed to August
8 or later, according to Fatah sources, due to continued
internal deliberation. As a result, Abu Mazen advisor Nimer
Hamad predicted, the Congress is unlikely to adjourn before
August 9.
WALLES