The new chief of the ruling Fatah movement has sought an alliance with Hamas in an effort to pressure the new Palestinian leadership.  A report by an Israeli think tank asserted that Fatah chief Farouk Khaddoumi has been preparing to establish an alliance against the Palestinian Authority. The report said the alliance would include Hamas and Islamic Jihad. "Arafat's Tunis-based, hardline successor as Fatah leader, is striving to form a new center of influence with the cooperation of radical Palestinian factions -- including the Hamas and Islamic Jihad leadership abroad -- in order to serve as a watchdog on the elected leadership," the report by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs said. The center, in a report authored by [Res.] Lt. Col. Jonathan Halevi, said Khaddoumi represents a challenge to the new Palestinian leadership in the aftermath of the death of PA Chairman Yasser Arafat. That leadership has been composed of PLO and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei. |