By Taghreed Saadeh
Sources within Fatah told “Zaytoun News” that the movement is preparing to hold its eighth general conference to elect a new leadership at the beginning of next year, in a step aimed at reorganizing its ranks and renewing its organizational legitimacy after years of stagnation. And in preparation for the upcoming presidential and legislative elections
According to the same sources, the movement has begun preparations through elections in overseas branches, with voting held in Lebanon and Sweden under the supervision of the Mobilization and Organization Commission for the external branches, and in the presence of members of the Central Committee and the Revolutionary Council. Fatah plans to complete the regional elections within and out Palestine.
Amnesty and Internal Reorganization
The preparations for the conference coincide with a decision by Fatah’s Central Committee to review requests from members wishing to return to the movement, based on a resolution issued in March and statements made by President Mahmoud Abbas during the Arab Summit regarding amnesty for expelled members.
The Central Committee clarified in an official circular that expelled members wishing to rejoin Fatah must submit an individual request expressing their willingness to return to the movement’s structures and comply with Fatah’s laws and regulations. The application period lasts one month from the date of the circular.
Although several expelled cadres, including Nasser Al-Qidwa, Najat Abu Bakr, and others, have returned to the movement, around 22 leaders affiliated with the Mohammad Dahlan faction rejected submitting individual requests, preferring a collective return as they had been expelled collectively.
Nevertheless, Fatah sources confirm that the leadership is proceeding with its organizational agenda without paying attention to these objections, focusing on rebuilding its internal house.
Who Will Succeed Abbas?
A source within the movement, who wished to remain anonymous, indicated that several prominent names are being considered as potential candidates for Fatah’s presidency, including Jibril Rajoub, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Nasser Al-Qidwa, as well as Marwan Barghouti, who enjoys significant popularity among the Fatah grassroots.
The source emphasized that the presidential candidate will be chosen through internal elections within Fatah, not by appointment.
He added that rumors suggesting some Fatah leaders oppose efforts to secure Barghouti’s release from detention are unrealistic, explaining that “if the movement had the power, it could have freed other imprisoned Fatah leaders, such as Sa’id Al-Awadallah and Khaled Rajoub.” He noted that such rumors are sometimes used to provoke controversy against the movement.
Members of the Central Committee and Revolutionary Council reportedly visited Barghouti’s home and met with his wife, Fadwa, in support following his exclusion from the latest release deal by the Israeli authorities.
The source confirmed that while Barghouti enjoys widespread popularity within Fatah, some leaders believe the next phase requires the ability to work with donor countries and attract financial support, raising doubts about Barghouti’s capacity in this regard. Nevertheless, the organizational institutions of Fatah will ultimately decide, as “any candidate will not receive full support unless officially endorsed by Fatah.”
Marwan Barghouti’s Electoral and Political Background
Barghouti participated in the 1996 legislative elections, but he did not enjoy strong electoral support, ranking after Abdel Jawad Saleh, Jamil Al-Tarifi, and Qadura Fares on the Ramallah-Bireh list, and even after Fida party candidate Azmi Al-Shaibi. However, in the 2006 elections, while in detention, his position improved, and he won a seat on Fatah’s list alongside prisoners Mohammad Ibrahim Abu Ali and Jamal Hawil. In contrast, Hamas won 11 seats, while Ahmed Saadat of the Popular Front represented his party from prison.
Before the Second Intifada, Barghouti lost the position of Fatah Secretary in Ramallah in the internal 1999 elections to Hussein Sheikh, the current Palestinian Vice President, highlighting the internal organizational struggles that are natural within any major political movement.
Campaign for Barghouti’s Release
Since his arrest in 2002, Barghouti’s wife, Fadwa, has led campaigns for his release. In 2013, the international campaign for his release was launched from Robben Island in South Africa, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, with support from the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the attendance of global political and diplomatic figures in a major symbolic event. The choice of location highlighted parallels between Barghouti’s struggle and Mandela’s fight against oppression and imprisonment. Since then, Barghouti has been widely referred to in Arab and international media as the “Palestinian Mandela.
has successfully kept his case alive on the international stage, garnering support from solidarity movements and Nobel Peace Prize laureates, and has continued organizing events and initiatives in Africa and Europe, affirming that Barghouti’s freedom is part of the broader struggle for Palestinian liberation.
Despite Fatah having dozens of prisoners in Israeli jails, the movement treats all prisoners collectively rather than focusing on any individual case. Barghouti’s case, managed by his wife from day one, has elevated his prominence, sometimes creating sensitivity within the movement between those who see him as a unifying symbol and those who believe the attention undermines internal leadership balance.
Relations Between Fatah and Hamas
Some media outlets aligned with Hamas or opposing Fatah have attempted to portray Barghouti as an independent figure or close to their political project, but in reality, he remains deeply committed to Fatah and its political program.
Despite the symbolic prominence, Hamas is highly unlikely to support any Fatah candidate in upcoming elections, as such a candidate is considered a continuation of the current Palestinian Authority, which Hamas has opposed since its 2007 takeover.
Barghouti represents the nationalist stream within Fatah, advocating for unity and reconciliation, without departing from the movement or the PLO’s approach. Any suggestion that his candidacy threatens the Authority or serves as an alternative is inaccurate. The key issue remains Fatah’s ability to make a democratic decision internally and unite its ranks around a single candidate.
Preparing for the Eighth Conference
Fatah’s preparations for the eighth conference place the movement before a significant internal test, the ability to unify its ranks and elect a leadership capable of confronting upcoming political and organizational challenges.
The conference is not merely an organizational formality; it is a step toward determining the future of the largest Palestinian movement, ensuring its continuity as a unifying national force capable of carrying forward the Palestinian state building project and the quest for independence.
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