RAMALLAH – The ruling Fatah movement has been racked by a violent
split.
Palestinian sources said the split has pitted pro-Western and reform
members against those aligned with Iran and Syria. They said the split
threatened to lead to a violent confrontation that would involve the
Palestinian Authority.
On March 10, a gathering of Fatah was broken up by more than 20 gunmen
from a rival faction of the movement. The gunmen fired into the air and
ordered more than 1,200 activists to leave a conference that would discuss
reform.
Nobody was injured. The sources said the gunmen were members of Fatah's
pro-Iranian military wing, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.
"The movement is split, with one side having Western support and the
other having guns and support from Iran and Syria," a Palestinian source
said. "The split appears to be throughout Fatah, particularly in the West
Bank."
Menwer Aqraa, an Al Aqsa commander in Ramallah, said the meeting
sought to maintain the corrupt rule of the Palestinian leadership. He said
Al Aqsa wants "change and reform," but would not elaborate.
The Al Aqsa movement as well as the pro-Iranian wing were said to be led
by Fatah chief Farouk Khaddoumy. Khaddoumy was said to have received $5
million from Iran to prevent the movement from being taken over the
pro-Western elements of the movement, particularly PA Chairman Mahmoud
Abbas.
Fatah has also been split in the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, Fatah
activists helped lead thousands of Palestinians in a violent demonstration
in Gaza City. The Palestinians, who protested high unemployment, stormed the
Palestinian Legislative Council, where they were dispersed by police who
fired into the air.
"So far we have nothing," Abed Abu Mahadi, an organizer of the protest
said.
