Will jailed Fatah leader become its new VP?
The newly elected members of Fatah’s Central Committee failed to appoint a vice president, as controversy surrounds imprisoned leader Marwan Barghouti, who received the highest number of votes at the movement’s internal elections.
![PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL/ An Israeli prison guard (L) escorts jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti (C) to a deliberation at Jerusalem Magistrate's court January 25, 2012. Convicted of murder for his role in attacks on Israelis, Barghouti was jailed for life by Israel in 2004.
REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW) - RTR2WTJR](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2016/12/RTR2WTJR.jpg/RTR2WTJR.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=uc2f5af8)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Fatah's Central Committee will meet later this month to select a vice president from among numerous contenders.
As Fatah's seventh general congress concluded Dec. 4, none of the top vote-getters from the internal elections had been selected for the position. Imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti received the most votes in the Dec. 3 elections. Having scored 936 votes, Barghouti is qualified to serve as vice president, while Jibril Rajoub, a member of Fatah's Revolutionary Council, came in second with 838 votes.