Fatah’s congress followed by hollow claims of a “new beginning”

[IndianaGreen]

Fatah’s congress followed by hollow claims of a “new beginning”

By Jean Shaoul
15 August 2009

Fatah’s first congress in 20 years was proclaimed by its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, as a “new beginning.” That he was still in a position to do so is proof to the contrary.

Since assuming control of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Fatah has presided over a disastrous attempt to seek an accommodation with Israel and discredited itself in the process. Abbas is the personification of a corrupt and brutal regime, encircled by Israel and beholden to Washington and Tel Aviv. He is rarely seen outside Ramallah and spends most of his time in his villa in Jordan. While the Fatah leadership has enriched itself, the Palestinian masses face appalling levels of poverty, squalor and misery.

The congress took place after US President Barack Obama’s recent diplomatic efforts to secure Israeli agreement to establishing a Palestinian mini-state as part of a broader realignment in the Middle East meant to secure the US’s geo-strategic interests in the oil rich region. This would only encompass parts of the West Bank, not including East Jerusalem and the main settlements. In addition, it requires some resolution of the fate of Gaza, which is controlled by the Islamist movement, Hamas, which neither the Israel nor US presently recognise and have repeatedly sought to depose.

Billed as an attempt to bring forward a young leadership, draft a new party programme and restore its credibility among the Palestinians, Fatah’s congress was motivated primarily by efforts to convince Israel and the US that it could be trusted to impose this agenda and successfully discipline and, if necessary, crush all popular opposition. It was held under the auspices of the Israeli state, which dictated who could attend, bearing witness to Fatah’s direct dependence upon Israel and the US. Fatah’s real role as the organisation of the Palestinian bourgeoisie was unmistakeable: with delegations of cigar smoking men in business suits and expensive cars, whom the Financial Times aptly described as a “gerontocracy.”

Media claims that the “new generation” of leaders is somehow more directly representative of residents of the West Bank and Gaza than the “exiles” are false.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/aug2009/fata-a15.shtml

[oberliner]

1. You have the most interesting sources

Glad that we've got the Socialist and Marxist perspectives so well-represented.

As to the article itself, I think it's more than a little extreme to claim that "Abbas is the personification of a corrupt and brutal regime."

[IndianaGreen]

2. Why do you think Hamas won the last elections, if not for Fatah's corruption

and incompetence.

[oberliner]

3. Brutal is the word I find to be too extreme

I agree that they are corrupt.