Special to WorldTribune.com

RAMALLAH — The ruling Fatah movement continues to be divided by a
leadership feud.

Palestinian sources said Fatah, which controls the Palestinian
Authority, has been hampered by personal disputes that reach chairman
Mahmoud Abbas. They said the feuds have become violent, including shootings
and assaults.

“The situation is getting out of control,” a senior Palestinian source said.

Over the last month, leading Fatah members have been shot and assaulted throughout the West Bank. On late Dec. 18, gunmen opened fire at the office of PA Islamic Affairs Minister Mahmoud Habash. Habash was struck by a bullet to the shoulder in El Bireh.

Hours earlier, a Palestinian legislator attacked a senior PA official and former security commander, Jibril Rajoub. Palestinian Legislative Council member Jamal Abu Rub, a member of the Fatah Executive Committee, struck Rajoub several times in the face during the visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the West Bank.

In November, Rajoub’s bodyguards were said to have assaulted Abu Rub, a former commander in the Fatah militia Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Both men travel with a security team.

“This was a personal thing between the two men,” the source said.

Abbas responded by dismissing Al Rub, who lives in the northern province
of Jenin, from Fatah. In response, hundreds of Al Rub supporters submitted
their resignation.

“There will be no Fatah in Qabatia anymore,” Mahmoud Zakarna, Fatah
secretary-general in the northern town, said. “Fatah in Qabatia is resigning
in response to the expulsion of Jamal Abu Al Rub.”

  Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah internal feud ‘getting out of control’, Jibril Rajoub, Mahmoud Abbas, Mahmoud Habash