The news continues to filter in as the triumph of Hamas in the Gaza strip becomes apparent, culminating with the Palestinian government being dissolved by President Mahmoud Abbas this past hour. Fatah is running with its tail between its legs (quite literally – 40 Executive Force soldiers loyal to Abbas had to blow up a section of the Israeli-constructed Gaza-Egyptian wall to escape into Egypt), much to the dismay of the Western governments who trumpeted Abbas as the heralded moderate in post-Arafat Palestine. It seems his time is dwindling as a serious power broker in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict or in Palestinian internal affairs (the tally for Abbas brokered cease-fires to be consequently ignored the next day is in the teens).
The casual observer will be quick to judge on lines of the media-fueled zero-sum game between Islamist Hamas and Moderate Fatah (capitalized due to caricatures). The adjectives may be comfortingly simple, the reality has always been faith-based militants with a panache for service and charity against white mustaches primarily interested in diverting funds to Swiss bank accounts and sending their children to Paris. Though not nearly as popular as reported, Hamas has succeeded in creating a following extremely devoted to their principles, while Fatah generated support primarily by bullying and defacto generational transposition. The common thread of allegiance to Fatah is that of Palestinian antiquities — tribes, elders, local militias — compared to the grassroots organization of Hamas.
While Fatah was birthed out of the loins of the pan-Arab, Nassir-led movement, it was reared by the slimy hands of Yasser Arafat, who personally siphoned off over one billion dollars of international aid and lined the pockets of those around him. The bleakest moment came on the international stage as the world recoiled at the actions of an over-militarized, second-world dictator: Arafat openly cheered on the sideline as Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1991. For years, Fatah became synonymous with the delusional old crank who only had friends because of internationally funded hand outs.
Arafat’s malignant spirit still casts a dark shadow over a group that has further mimiced his policies of graft and kleptocracy. While the money laundering continued as the Palestinian infastructure collapsed, Fatah sunk in a cesspool of its own political bankruptcy, leading to the dismal showing in the 2006 parliamentary elections that may be regarded in the future as the institutional revolution of Hamas. Some claimed a philosophical victory for Hamas in the territories, but the truth was a poorly coached game, mired by political infighting over spoils within Fatah while the populace grew more disaffected with the habits of corrupted old elites.
In the short run, the collapse of the Palestinian government and the split between a Fatah dominated West Bank and a Hamas dominated Gaza will be disastrous. The West’s worst fears of an isolated Islamic state in Palestine and guerrilla warfare against Israel won’t be realized. However, this rupture will not only take a significant portion of time to heal, but certainly speeds up the process of decline for Fatah that began in 1993 at the Oslo agreements and the proceeding failed peace negotiations.
In the long term, this may speed up the precipitous decline of Fatah, a shell of a party that long ago abandoned its platform of secular socialism in favor of an unhealthy dose of bureaucracy and corruption. The only hope can be that a true moderate party, more responsive to the Palestinian people, will arise during the slow bleed of Fatah’s death.
More Readings
Hamas: Documents from GSS HQ prove Fatah links to CIA by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton
Hamastan: Egypt’s New Neighbour, Gaza Strip is becoming Hamastan, Gang War In Gaza, and Gaza battle nears victory for Hamas
Palestine: The Prison by James Lewis
Palestinian President: The Civil War Has Begun
Share & Save: |
 |
Share |  |
Related Posts on PBH |
Auf Wiedersehen Fatah
The news continues to filter in as the triumph of Hamas in the Gaza strip becomes apparent, culminating with the Palestinian government being dissolved by President Mahmoud Abbas this past hour. Fatah is running with its tail between its legs…
I made some minor changes and updates.
What a riot, what a carry one. Gaza may be too old to play for England but he can still party with the best of them. Looks sunny, is it Spain? Like the fancy dress. Kinky:)))))
alec, I agree with the author that Fatah is a rotting corpse. However, I disagree with most of the rest of the article: I don’t see a moderate party developing because the Palestinians have no money and no economy, and the people with money and guns will dominate – and that is Hamas and its allies (Hezbollah) and its state sponsors – Iran and Syria. Don’t discount the power of authoritarian religion coupled with perpetual victimhood. Israel is being inexorably surrounded by groups with a long-term perspective; it must soon rouse itself from its lethargy or catastrophe will ensue, especially if the isotope sisters make their stage appearance.
Of course, a bullet to the head for Abbas, Dahlan, and Rajoub will do the trick.
Same thing as emptying the jails in Ramallah of the prisoners held by the PA.
There is no moderation for a revolution, which cannot be defeated by military means.
I expect that the demise of Fatah will be cheered by many and mourned by few. Except perhaps for the Western govenment “leaders” who were duped into thinking that Abbas had the power to control Fatah and events in Palestine.
The big question is what now? The region is already in chaos and Palestine moves front and center once again.
Civil: One thing: Fatah has plenty of weapons and money.
Travelwell: Unclear. I think for now, it means a divided Gaza / West Bank. Beyond that, it’s going to take a lot of time and effort to get this resolved; no more five minute cease fires and insincere unity governments.
What did the PLO and Fatah bring for Palestinians during last 40 years ?.
No one will regret the departure of the corrupted Fatah
Temerair: Exactly nothing, that’s what they did.
Win the battle, lose the war?
Over the last week, the Islamist terror organization Hamas completed its conquest of the Gaza strip, seizing power and driving out the secular terrorist organization, al-Fatah (the major faction of the PLO). Claiming to represent the legitimate governm…
But Fatah is BACK! Good gracious. It was fun watching them all have at it – saving us the trouble.