The sources said elements within Fatah's military wing have been aligned
with Teheran as early as 2001. But they said the effort was opposed when
Mahmoud Abbas, supported by the United States, became chairman of the PA in
2005.
The sources said Abbas, in coordination with Egypt, agreed to open a
channel to Iran in an effort to reach a settlement with the Hamas regime in
the Gaza Strip. Abbas has sought to ensure that Hamas enable 300 Fatah
operatives in the Gaza Strip to attend the Sixth Fatah General Conference,
scheduled for Aug. 4 in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
On July 16, PA minister and chief negotiator Saeb Erekat became the
first PA official to openly meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr
Mottaki. They said the late PA Chairman Yasser Arafat had maintained an
envoy who would occasionally travel to Iran.
"We saw each other," Erekat said. "It was just a regular meeting.
Palestinian sources said the 15-minute session in Egypt was meant to
demonstrate the PA's willingness to conduct an open relationship with Iran.
They said the next meetings could include a visit by a senior PA official to
Teheran.
"Erekat represented Abbas and the pro-Western wing of Fatah and the PA,
and so this marked a strong message that a new policy was being launched,"
another Fatah source said. "It also was meant to show the United States and
Arab countries that we have options."
On July 21, Iran said the Erekat-Mottaki meeting focused on the prospect
of a PA-Hamas reconciliation. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan
Qashqavi did not elaborate.
Palestinian sources said senior Fatah officials have issued statements
meant to overcome Iranian objection to cooperation. They said the statements
included pledges to continue the armed struggle against Israel regardless of
any PA accord.
"I am certain that we will hinder all the traitors who wish to remove
the resistance option from the [Fatah] movement's charter," Fatah official
Rafik Natsheh said.
