GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Fatah's internal disputes are back in the spotlight after a surprising revelation at a movement gathering in Nablus on Aug. 5. Jamal Muheisen, a Central Committee member, announced at the meeting that Fatah Chairman Mahmoud Abbas had signed off on a decision to dismiss four Fatah leaders on the grounds of having “other allegiances,” a not-so-veiled reference to Abbas rival and ousted Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan.
The decision was confirmed by a leaked document issued by Palestinian General Intelligence and addressed to Abbas in his capacity as leader of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Dated Aug. 7 and published by several Palestinian media outlets, including Pal Times, the document notes that six leaders were to be dismissed, not four as Muheisen had announced. Those named were Najat Abu Bakr, Naima Sheikh Ali, Adli Sadek and Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, while the identities of the other two were not disclosed.
