Abbas associates say gains by Islamists would justify Israeli rejectionism; Fatah showing unity in ranks ahead of vote
With Fatah and Hamas locked in a high-stakes struggle ahead of October’s Palestinian municipal elections in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, officials close to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have accused the Israeli leadership of hoping for a Hamas win.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman “are convinced we are going to lose and thus want these elections,” the officials told The Times of Israel.
They desire a victory for Hamas, as this would prove their allegations that there is no one to talk to” on the Palestinian side, they said.
The officials limited their accusations to Netanyahu and Liberman, however. Israel’s intelligence community, the Shin Bet security service and officials in charge of coordination with the Palestinians were “a different story,” they said, and these did not wish to see Fatah lose.
Candidate lists are closing in five days. Despite concerns that Hamas could make significant gains in the polls, and with Hamas recently threatening to boycott the elections over the arrests of its members in the West Bank, the officials said there was no intention of canceling or postponing the voting.
“Fatah has a reasonable chance of winning,” the officials told The Times of Israel. “The decision to go to the polls has tightened the ranks, and we are working intensely to prevent any splits or internal conflicts.”
Fatah sources noted, with some surprise, that even those Fatah politicians affiliated with longtime Abbas rival Mohammad Dahlan appeared intent on maintaining unity, in order to bolster the party’s chances to defeat Hamas.
Other Fatah officials noted that though there were still disagreements about the organization’s local rosters, extraordinary efforts were being made to prevent any internal discord that could lead to multiple candidates splitting the vote and a subsequent victory for Hamas candidates. Disputes still existed over the identities of candidates in the large Palestinian cities, though decisions were expected to be made by week’s end.
In Nablus, barring any last-minute surprises, Fatah and Hamas candidates were expected to run together in a joint list led by current Hamas-backed Nablus Mayor Adly Yaish. The groups would then rotate leadership of the municipality. Meanwhile in Ramallah, Mayor Musa Hadid was expected to once again lead Fatah’s election effort. The candidates in other cities have not yet been determined.
A number of officials noted that clan affiliation was the most consequential factor in the haggling over candidate identities, even more so than party affiliation — particularly in smaller towns and villages.
The various officials who spoke with The Times of Israel, including Dahlan associates, noted that Friday’s security crackdown in Nablus, in which two PA policemen and two gunmen were killed, had increased the stature of Abbas and the PA.
Liberman, they added, had provided an unlikely boost as well, with his repeated claims that Abbas is an obstacle to peace.
“Liberman’s accusations against Abbas actually strengthen him. The chief needed Israel to attack him rather than embrace him [in order to shore up support],” the officials said, “and Liberman delivered the goods.”
As reported by The Times of Israel