Untitled - the ultimate blog

However, just as some of the new leaders may endear themselves to the Americans, and even to the
Israelis, so the congress’s firm commitment to a two-state solution of the conflict and negotiations as a
way to peace with Israel will further underline Fatah’s ideological rift with Hamas. That organisation does
not recognise Israel’s right to exist and favours armed resistance. The two factions are supposed to meet
in Egypt later this month for another round of unity talks. Few expect any results. The inclusion of Mr
Dahlan in Fatah’s Central Committee is not likely to help reconciliation. When he ran the Preventive
Security Force in Gaza in the 1990s, he led a forceful crackdown on Hamas and has been reviled by the
Islamist organisation ever since.
National elections are set for January 2010. The new Fatah leadership will still face a strong challenge
from Hamas, but even before the conference in Bethlehem Fatah had been enjoying a surge in popular
support in the West Bank. This was due partly to the improved economic situation and also to the
increased calm on the streets, attributed to the intensive American training of the PA’s security forces.
Israel’s massive onslaught on Hamas-controlled Gaza earlier this year also seems to have validated Mr
Abbas’s more moderate approach. “I like Fatah more now,” said a young man who was selling roast
chicken in the market in front of the Nativity church in Bethlehem. “There are a lot of scary things going
on in Gaza. Hamas is crazy. Palestine is Fatahland.”
Copyright © 2009 The Economist Newspaper and The Economist Group. All rights reserved.
-52-