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Fight within Fatah reveals power struggle

A recent altercation between a senior Fatah leader and a member of the Palestinian parliament could signal a widening rift among various Fatah factions.
Masked Palestinian Fatah supporters stand in front of a poster depicting late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during a rally marking the 9th anniversary of his death at al-Najah University campus in the West Bank city of Nablus November 10, 2013. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERSARY) - RTX157QB

At face value, the slap in the face senior Fatah leader Jibril Rajoub received from a member of the Palestinian parliament does not constitute material for a news analysis. The strike by parliament member Fateh Abu Rub that occurred Dec. 18 in the Grand Park Hotel's lobby in Ramallah was resolved relatively quickly, as the two Fatah leaders issued simultaneous statements saying that they have agreed to forgive and forget.

What makes this altercation different is that it might be an early warning to the leadership tug-of-war that is expected in the aftermath of the reign of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. On Jan. 1, 2014, Fatah celebrated its 49th anniversary with mixed expectations as to its future.

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