Fatah Movement and Its Internal Crises

Years ago, I wrote an article about Fatah, the national idea, and Fatah, the organization, indicating that the flaw was in Fatah the organization, not in Fatah the national idea, and this remains the case.

Since its establishment, the Fatah Movement has faced attempts to weaken it both intellectually and organizationally, and to split its ranks, not only from defectors supported by states and governments. Despite everything that has happened to Fatah in terms of organizational slackness and weakness, it has remained the guardian of Palestinian nationalism, and no movement or party has succeeded in replacing it until now. When we say Fatah, we also mean the Palestine Liberation Organization, not only because it is its backbone but also because practically, there is nothing left in the organization except for Fatah with its unifying national ideology and its historical struggle that revived identity and national political existence.

However, concern for the Fatah Movement now is greater than ever before, and what we fear is that Hamas will succeed where states and governments have failed, further dividing the Fatah Movement just as they have divided the authority, the people, and the national fabric.

Hence, our sharp criticism of the organization of the Fatah Movement and some of its current leaders, and criticizing the organizational reality of the movement does not imply any insult to Fatah, the national idea, or the history of struggle.

If the current disagreements among Fatah leaders were part of a role-sharing arrangement as was the case during the era of the late leader Abu Ammar, we would understand the situation. However, it does not appear that things are moving in this direction after disagreements reached levels of doubt and accusations of betrayal that harm the Fatah Movement.

For instance: the president describes Hamas as "sons of dogs" and calls for their removal from the political scene, and a majority of the members of the Central Committee and the Revolutionary Council share this view, while members of the Central and Revolutionary councils support Hamas and its resistance, stating that it is part of the national fabric and stressing the necessity of reconciliation with it!

And a member of the Revolutionary Council of Fatah accuses those who criticize Hamas of being agents for Israel and belonging to Unit 8200, without the ability to differentiate between Hamas as a Muslim Brotherhood group pursuing an external agenda and presenting itself as an alternative to the PLO on one hand, and national resistance as a legitimate right of the Palestinian people on another. Fatah supporters respond angrily to him, describing him in the harshest terms, with one Fatah media figure labeling him as a "slaphead". The situation has even reached a sharp division between Fatah members from Gaza and those from the West Bank, with the former feeling that the latter belittle the blood of the people of Gaza, the cradle of Palestinian nationalism, and treat Gaza Fatah members and all residents of the Strip with arrogance.

Finally, Fatah member Ashraf Dabbour, former ambassador of the authority in Lebanon and currently its ambassador in Oman, claims there is suspicion of corruption or receiving a bribe or commission of half a million dollars to facilitate a real estate deal in Lebanon, and the intermediary or accused is a member of the Central Committee!

This, in addition to scandals related to the corruption file of Nazmi Mahna, and a state of anxiety regarding the post-Abu Mazen phase and questions from many members of the Fatah Central Committee and its Revolutionary Council and grassroots regarding the appointment of Hussein al-Sheikh as a successor to the president in all presidencies, after believing that we have surpassed the stage of "President of all presidencies" - the organization, the state, the authority, and the Fatah Movement - regardless of the identity of the president.

This is not a disclosure of dirty laundry or a distortion of the Fatah Movement to which I belong, and I am a member of its consultative council, but rather a call and an appeal to President Abu Mazen and brother Mahmoud al-Aloul to act quickly to put an end to the state of leniency and organizational and intellectual laxity to save the Fatah Movement and restore it to its pioneering role, especially since our battle with the Zionist enemy is still long, and what Israel has accomplished in the field in Gaza and the West Bank does not mean it has triumphed over the Palestinian people or that the cause has ended, for there is always something that can be done.