The Palestinian Fatah movement, the most powerful in the Palestinian Authority-run West Bank, has held a conference in Lebanon to elect new leadership. This matters because Fatah plays a key role among Palestinians in Lebanon. It also matters because PA head Mahmoud Abbas has been seeking to work closely with the new leadership in Lebanon of President Joseph Aoun.
Fatah, for instance, was influential in getting its factions to disarm and hand over weapons to the government this year. The Fatah elections in Lebanon thus have something to say about the future of Fatah in general and possibly its role in Gaza.
According to the Palestinian Yaffa News network, the conference for the elections convened on October 19 in Lebanon. It was the seventh conference of its kind, the report said. It took place at the Palestinian Embassy in Beirut.
“Fatah in Lebanon renewed its commitment and allegiance to the leader of the Palestinian cause, President Mahmoud Abbas,” the report said. Yasser Abbas, the son of Mahmoud Abbas, attended as his father’s representative.
Also in attendance were both the Palestinian ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Al-Asaad and Samir Al-Rifai, a member of the Fatah Central Committee and a representative for it in Syria. A number of other Fatah officials were present, including Raed Al-Lawzi, Ramez Damasheqieh, Fathi Abu Al-Ardat, Amina Jibril, Hassan Faraj, as well as former ambassadors Khaled Aref and Nazmi Al-Hazouri.
'Fatah leads the PLO, the sole and legitimate representative of our people'
Asaad, the PA’s ambassador, claimed that the event held a national message “affirming that Fatah is still alive, vibrant, and leading, bringing together Palestinians in the homeland and the diaspora.” He stressed that Fatah leads the PLO, “the sole and legitimate representative of our people.” He also discussed Abbas’ visit to Lebanon earlier this year, along with his meeting with Aoun.
He called this a “turning point in the brotherly relations between the Palestinian and Lebanese states.” He noted that Palestine is now recognized by 159 countries, which he said was a major success in the wake of the “UN’s granting of observer status to Palestine in 2012.”
Of interest, Asaad also discussed the “disarmament process alongside the recognition of civil, humanitarian, social, and economic rights for the Palestinian people in Lebanon.” Yasser Abbas wished the conference success.
Days prior to the elections, a Palestinian delegation had met with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. This delegation had also included Yasser Abbas in his role as special representative of the president of the PA Mahmoud Abbas. From the PA’s perspective, he is the special representative of the president of the “state of Palestine.” Asaad also attended the meeting on October 16.
“The discussions focused on monitoring the arms handover within refugee camps, addressing humanitarian, social, and economic rights of the refugees, and tackling urgent life-related issues to strengthen Lebanese-Palestinian cooperation, in full respect of Lebanese sovereignty and laws, and ensuring the dignity of Palestinian refugees,” Yaffa News noted.
Al-Akhbar media in Lebanon, generally pro-Hezbollah, covered the elections on October 20. It noted that the elections reflected Abbas’ “tightening grip on the [Fatah] movement and the removal of his opponents.” It said that Asaad was a close associate of Abbas. It noted that of the 154 Fatah members participating in the conference, around 30 were nominated by one of the factions in Lebanon.
“Among the 15 most prominent winners is Riad Abu al-Enein, son of Fatah leader Sultan Abu al-Enein, who settled his dispute with the Ramallah authorities, which were considering dismissing him from his position at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and pursuing him on corruption charges,” Al-Akhbar noted.
It said that Asaad is a close associate of Abbas. It noted that of the 154 Fatah members participating in the conference, around 30 were nominated by one fo the factions in Lebanon.
“Among the 15 most prominent winners is Riad Abu al-Enein, son of Fatah leader Sultan Abu al-Enein, who settled his dispute with the Ramallah authorities, which were considering dismissing him from his position at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and pursuing him on corruption charges,” Al-Akhbar noted.
“He is also Brig.-Gen. Mohammed al-Omari, whom Ramallah sent nearly three years ago to head the movement’s intelligence apparatus and embassy. He is close to Yasser Abbas and to the head of the PA’s General Intelligence Service, Majed Faraj.
Until late last night, Abbas Jr. was making every effort to elect Omari as the movement’s secretary-general in Lebanon, succeeding Fathi Abu al-Ardat.”
Faraj is considered a key Palestinian security official who is likely to play a role in any post-Abbas era. It would appear that the increasing prominence of the younger Abbas might mean a post-Abbas era that continues to be an Abbas era – if the son rises to power.