FATAH CONGRESS ELECTS FRESH FACES TO FRC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JERUSALEM 001450 SENSITIVE SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO/KUMAR; JOINT STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KWBG KDEM PINR SUBJECT: FATAH CONGRESS ELECTS FRESH FACES TO FRC ¶1. (SBU) On August 16, the Fatah Sixth Party Congress released official election results for the (now) 81-member Fatah Revolutionary Council (FRC). Voting resulted in a substantially newer FRC, with only 11 incumbents retaining their seats. Many newly-elected members are former First Intifada activists, and represent a fresh generation of mid-ranking political leadership for the party. ¶2. (SBU) According to Fatah contacts, the vote was generally considered fair, and the results were welcomed by delegates eager to portray the Congress as a generational milestone for Fatah. Abu Mazen, announcing the results, termed the vote a "new launch," saying the "spirit of youth" would empower Fatah to address the challenges posed by national dialogue, elections, and negotiations. ¶3. (SBU) Abu Mazen also praised the election of female candidates by a"more civilized" FRC election process. Of the 81 victorious candidates, 11 are women (with Amneh Jibril leading the overall vote tally),one was born an Israeli Jew (long-time Palestinian rights activist Uri Davis),and four are Christians. The Top Twenty Vote-Winners -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The top twenty vote-winners amongst the successful FRC candidates were, in descending order: (1) AMNEH JIBRIL: Head of the General Union of Palestinian Women in Lebanon; Palestinian National Committee (PNC) member since 1983. (2) SAMIR RIFAI: Syrian-based Fatah official appointed as Fatah Damascus representative by Abu Mazen. (3) ABEER WAHIDI: First Intifada activist imprisoned 1988-1997; married to imprisoned al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member Ramzi Ebaid. (4) DALAL SALAMEH: Nablus-based First Intifada activist; former Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member; (5) AMIN MAQBOUL: FRC incumbent; Deputy Minister of Interior for Civil Affairs; First Intifada activist; ally of Marwan Bargouthi. (6) SABRI SAIDAM: Abu Mazen advisor; son of late FCC member Mamdouh Saidam. (7) HATEM ABDEL QADER: Former Palestinian Authority (PA) Minister of Jerusalem Affairs; First Intifada activist. (8) BASSEM AL AGHA: Palestinian Authority Ambassador to Yemen. (9) JAMAL SHOBAKI: Former PLC member; Marwan Bargouthi ally; First Intifada activist. (10) FATHI ABU ERAIDAT: Former senior Fatah security official in Lebanon; Abbas Zaki ally. (11) FADWA BARGOUTHI: Wife of imprisoned FCC member Marwan Bargouthi; First Intifada activist. (12) BAHAA BALOSHEH: Retired Gaza security official. (13) YOUNIS AMRE: President of al-Quds Open University. (14) OSAMA AL FARA: Governor of Khan Younis; Mohammed Dahlan ally. (15) ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: Head of the PLC Political Committee; former PLO representative to Greece and Canada. (16) FAHMI ZAREER: Fatah spokesperson; First Intifada activist. (17) IBRAHIM KREIHEH: PLC Secretary; First Intifada activist. (18) JAMAL NAZAL: Former Fatah spokesperson; Germany-based. (19) BARAKAT AL FARA: Deputy PLO representative to Egypt and the Arab League; Gaza-based. (20) JAMAL SHATI: Former PLC member from Jenin; First Intifada Activist. JERUSALEM 00001450 002 OF 002 WALLES