GAZA CITY — The Fatah movement led by Palestinian Authority Chairman
Mahmoud Abbas are staying out of the war against Israel.
"The order said that this was not Fatah's fight and the leaders have
left the Gaza Strip," a PA security source said.
Palestinian sources said Abbas ordered Fatah not to join the Hamas-led
resistance to Israel Army operations in the Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported. The sources said
Fatah has decided to allow the Islamic movement to fight Israel alone in the
hope that the Hamas-led PA would collapse.
During much of July, Abbas and Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan were outside
the Gaza Strip. For about a week, both men consulted with Arab diplomats in
Amman.
Abbas received $100 million from international donors in an effort to
bolster his status among Palestinians. The donation led to the distribution
of $300 to each PA employee, the first such payment to public sector
employees in three months.
Still, Fatah leaders remain divided over the movement's direction in
wake of the Hamas takeover of the PA. The sources said Abbas has sought to
reconcile with PLO leaders abroad, particularly with Farouq Khaddoumy, the
head of the foreign affairs department.
