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Wednesday, August 12, 2009

'Young guard' pushes out Palestinian veterans from Fatah Central Committee in 'coup'

RAMALLAH Ñ The ruling Fatah movement has elected Palestinian security chiefs to its leadership in what has been called a "bloodless coup" against veteran Palestinian leaders.   

Three former Palestinian Authority security chiefs have been elected to the Fatah Central Committee. At least 13 of the 18 members of the ruling committee were said to represent the young guard of West Bank natives rather than exiled Fatah veterans.

"This marked a bloodless coup against the Old Guard, which played a role in the fall of the Gaza Strip to Hamas," Palestinian analyst and senior Fatah official Hani Al Masri said.


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Among those elected to the committee, marking the first change in 20 years, were Marwan Barghouti and Jibril Rajoub. Former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, a veteran exile leader, failed to make the panel. In all, only three incumbents were reelected.

"This is an unexpected result," former Palestinian ambassador Nasser Al Kidwa, also elected to the committee, said. "It's a huge change."

Rajoub was the founder of the PA's Preventive Security Apparatus, a 2,500-member force responsible for the crackdown on Hamas in the West Bank. Rajoub has also served as PA national security adviser.

Two other PA security chiefs were elected to the Fatah Central Committee. They were identified as former General Intelligence Services commander Tawfik Tirawi and PSA chief in the Gaza Strip Mohammed Dahlan.

"This election is setting a new future for the movement, a new democratic era," Dahlan said.

Still, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was expected to control the new Fatah leadership. Abbas has been granted the authority to appoint four members of the 18-member Central Committee.

The Fatah General Conference was delayed by the inability of 300 delegates to leave the Gaza Strip for the West Bank. Instead, the delegates were canvassed by telephone for their vote.

Fatah has also been preparing to announce the results of elections for the 120-member Revolutionary Council. Results for the 80 open seats were expected to be released on Aug. 12.



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