Palestinian President Abbas to Pledge Elections and Reform at Fatah Conference

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has been re-elected as leader of the Fatah movement at a party conference in Ramallah. The Eighth General Conference, which began on Thursday, aimed to elect a new central committee for the first time in 10 years. Abbas addressed the gathering, pledging to implement reform measures and hold long-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections.

Abbas was unanimously re-elected as leader of Fatah, and consequently, will remain head of the central committee. The conference comes amid pressure from international organizations, including the United States, European Union, and Arab states, to implement reforms and hold elections. These efforts are driven by concerns over corruption, political stagnation, and declining legitimacy among Palestinians.

Fatah’s central committee is expected to play a key role in the post-Abbas era. Key figures competing for leadership positions include Jibril Rajoub, secretary-general of the committee, and PA Deputy Hussein al-Sheikh. The conference has been attended by approximately 2,580 Fatah members from various locations, including Ramallah, Gaza, Cairo, and Beirut.

The gathering aims to address the Palestinian national movement’s challenges, which include implementing reforms and ensuring the establishment of a Palestinian state on the international agenda. Fatah has historically been the main component of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), but its popularity and influence have declined in recent years due to internal divisions and public frustration with the stagnation of the Israel-Palestine peace process.

The conference is expected to elect representatives to the central committee and the revolutionary council, which is Fatah’s parliament. The event has been marked by the absence of major figures, including Nasser al-Qudwa, who boycotted the gathering due to labeling it “illegitimate”.

Source: Al Jazeera