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.