| Submit your comments on this article |
| Middle East |
| Palestinian P.M. Abbas Quits Fatah Post |
| 2003-07-08 |
| Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas resigned from a top post in the Fatah movement Tuesday, a senior Palestinian source said, reflecting a split within the main Palestinian political group over negotiations with Israel. Abbas stepped down from his position as deputy head of the Fatah Central Committee, the movement's top executive body, the official said on condition of anonymity. Fatah, headed by Yasser Arafat, has been in turmoil over declaration of a unilateral cease-fire since last month. Another top Fatah official said that Abbas' move might be a ploy aimed at forcing recalcitrant Fatah members to agree to the way he is handling contacts with Israel, adding that Abbas was likely to withdraw his resignation. Uh huh. Abbas has been Arafat's deputy in Fatah, the largest Palestinian movement, for decades. Earlier Tuesday, Abbas called off a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, set for Wednesday. Palestinian officials cited differences over the issue of Israel's release of Palestinian prisoners. When Fatah declared a six-month halt to attacks against Israelis on June 29, it demanded that Israel release all of the 6,500 Palestinian prisoners it is holding. Israel, which was not a party to the truce, agreed to free only a few hundred as a goodwill gesture. The Islamic groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which declared three-month truces, have threatened to renew their attacks unless Israel frees all the prisoners. In a public appearance last week, Abbas promised families of prisoners that he would work for their release. Arafat reluctantly appointed Abbas as the Palestinian prime minister in April, giving in to intense international pressure to share power. Since then, Arafat has tried to retain as much leverage as possible, asserting his authority over negotiations with Israel. |
| Posted by:Steve |