80 Fatah Leaders meet in Bethlehem to discuss the upcoming 6th Convention

The CHE-mideast grassroots movement continues to grow. The Build Palestine Initiative that is lead by our Palestinian partners is reaching critical mass and is now influencing the direction of the entire Fatah movement.

Bethlehem -Maan News

Nov18, 2008

On Tuesday Nov. 18^th approximately 80 Fatah leaders , from a number of Palestinian provinces met to discuss challenges facing the party ahead of the hugely anticipated 6th Convention. The Meeting took place at the Women’s Union Hall under the slogan “Taking Responsibility for the Emergence of Fatah Movement.” Nafiz Rifaee presided over the conference along with Abdel Majeed Suwaiti and Thabet Swaitat. Also present were leaders representing the various sectors and committees of Fatah in the West Bank and Gaza.

Emphasis at the meeting was placed on the need to sustain the role that the Fatah Movement is achieving with the Palestinian National Project with its focus on internal reforms as well as open communication with the Executive committee. The attendees acknowledged the prolonged difficulties the movement has gone through and the need to reform it at this critical juncture in the absence of effective structures to implement such reforms.

The speakers emphasized the following points:

§ Sending recommendations to expand participation in the 6^th Convention by

including the young Generation.

§ Specify what the members wish to see from this convention.

§ Prepare action-plans and strategies of implementation after the 6^th convention.

§ Make sure all resolutions of the convention support the leading role that Fatah plays in the National Palestinian Plan.

The speakers emphasized the necessity for radical change within the party through internal elections that will enable the movement to continue its path toward freedom and Nation Building. Emphasis was also placed on holding all elected officials of Fatah who contributed to the demise of the movement accountable for their actions. Attendees also vowed to hold transparent internal party elections away from personal agendas and nepotism.

Fatah leader Nafiz Rifaee declared that this meeting is part of a series of important meetings that started on Feb 2, 2008 where 700 Fatah members voiced their opinion about the 6^th convention. These meetings have stressed the need to transform the movement and help it emerge.

Mr Rifaee added that the group will continue its meetings and will come up with a list of recommendations that will be presented to Ahmad Qurai (Abu Alaa’)- the head of the Annapolis negotiation team, and the Fatah official in charge of organizing the 6^th convention—and to Mr. Hakam Balaoui , in charge of the organizing committee of the conference. These recommendations will also be presented through every channel possible to make sure the overall vision of the movement includes the third generation Fatah members who have been the torch bearers of the group for years.

Other speakers including Mohammad Taha Amin, the Secretary General of Fatah in Bethlehem, Abdallah abu Hadid and Mousa Al Shaer, were supportive of Mr. Rifaee’s vision for change and transformation of the movement.