Wednesday 15 July 2009

Faruq Qaddumi and the Fath Conference


Contributed by Lucia

lu said...

UP, I'd like to know what's your opinion on Angry Arab's comments over the Qaddoumi bombshell (see his 9:41 post "Faruq Qaddumi and the Fath Conference") - which after all is not such a big surprise given that, as you aptly pointed out by linking to EI's 2007 article, Hamas had already disclosed Dahlan's complicity two years ago.

But, I mean, if what AA says is true that any decent person has long ago left Fatah and what is left of Fatah is beyond repair, then, what's the purpose of Hamas's insistence on holding unity talks?
I fail to grasp what they pretend. Wouldn't it be better to send Fatah to hell, to denounce them before the palestinian public opinion as what they are, show the people what the traitor Abbas and his clique stand for, and concentrate in those parties that stand for the national cause? What's your vision over all this?
-Thanks in advance-


1:44 PM, July 14, 2009


Faruq Qaddumi and the Fath Conference

Of course, what you read in foreign language newspapers on the Middle East is often in contrast with what one reads in Arabic newspapers or media. The upcoming Fath conference is the big news and yet it is barely getting any coverage in the Western press. This would be the first Fath conference since I think 1989.

It would be fair to say that this has been the most corrupt conference of any movement ever--and before it has even started: the buying of people and the use of money (and possibly the assassination of a Fath commander in Lebanon) are all part of the preparation, in addition to stacking the attendees with Dahlanists through deception, dirty tricks, and Israeli assistance.

And then Faruq Qaddumi threw a bombshell the other day when he talked about an Israeli conspiracy to kill Arafat with the full cooperation of Abu Mazen and--you guessed it--Muhammad Dahlan.

First, Qaddumi is not politically credible: he is a man who supposedly stood against Oslo and yet Arafat used to joke that his criticisms of Oslo disappear as soon as Arafat transferred funds to the Political Department which he heads within the PLO.

He was never clear as to where he stood on Oslo, and his relations with Arafat went through ups and down.

Is it possible that Dahlan and Abu Mazen were involved in a conspiracy to kill Arafat?

Of course. But the transcript of their meeting with Sharon does not sound credible to me: the way they so casually talked about killing Arafat. Such a matter would be handled quite differently and through a very tight circle, and in more secrecy. And if Arafat knew about it, as Qaddumi alleges, why did he not take action?

Don't get me wrong: it is clear that Arafat was assassinated: I asked a close friend of Arafat whether he went to Paris in the last days of Arafat. He told me that he could not. I asked why. He said: he was on the phone with Muhammad Salam (or Khalid Rashid depending on what name he was using) and Muhammad Dahlan. He told me that both men would complain on the phone: your friend has not expired it. He is still going on, and words to that effect. He said that he was so disgusted that he could not travel to meet them.

Fath was a movement that was corrupted by Arafat decades ago and it is beyond repair or reform. The decent people left Fath many years ago. You can't point to somebody within Fath who has not been tainted, unless you are talking about degrees of corruption. I mean, the symbol of the opposition and reform within Fath is none other than (the ailing) Hani Al-Hasan: who belongs to the Saudi Hasan faction within Fath. To reform Fath is akin to making the KKK non-racist.


Posted by As'ad at 9:41 AM

Answering Lucia

Lu

I advise you to read my comments under the title: Hamas "Improving": From "Immunity to learning" To "Immaturity" - updated.

I don't think the angry Arab has ever gone that far. In general what Assad said is true, but, I don't agree with him claiming that all decent people already left Fath, otherwise, why Fath would assassinate the Fath commander in Lebanon who stayed in Fath till his last breath as a pain in the back of Abbas Zaki, why Abbas insists to hold the upcoming Fath conference in occupied west bank, and needs deception, dirty tricks, and Israeli assistance?

Coming to your Question: "What's the purpose of Hamas's insistence on holding unity talks?"
and failing "to grasp what they pretend"

Yes "it be better to send Fatah to hell, to denounce them before the palestinian public opinion as what they are, show the people what the traitor Abbas and his clique stand for, and concentrate in those parties that stand for the national cause?"

Lu, I believe Hamas, insisting on endless dialogue and unity talks is doing that exactly, denouncing them before the Palestinian public opinion with it eyes fixed on parties standing for national cause. The worst thing Hamas may do is boycotting the dialogue.

All Palestinian factions are calling for dialogue, including the Palestinian left, and far left, who are against limiting the dialogue to fath and Hamas, just because they want to join the dialogue to ensure that the election law would guarantees a little piece of the cake.

Like it or not, Fath still represent a good part of Palestinian, and I can't say they are all corrupt and hopeless. Can you imagine, uprooted Palestinians raising in Ein El-Helweh Camp in Lebanon the pictures of the traitor selling their right of return? It is difficult, to imagine, to understand, but its a fact. The miseries they live in, without the minimum human rights, force them to be on Abbas payroll.

Forgive me for telling this long story, that reveals that Media, propaganda, disinformation is brainwashing minds. even the minds of many Palestinians.

3 weeks ago I was invited to a diner arranged by the head of a social committee acting where I live, because the host follows, the so-called "Third way - Salam Fayad" I was reluctant to accept the invitation, but at the end I decided to go.

I discovered, that the dinner, was arranged to hear a report about what Evil Hamas is doing in "Hamastan" from a "Credible source" just coming from Gaza. (An ex-Palestinian Ambassador - fateh). The nephew of Abbas was there.

I am sure they regretted inviting me, because they avoided me in the next gatherings, arranged under the title of Palestinian Unity. Instead, the taking was about Hamas coup, responsibility for the siege, the destruction, the staving and slow death in Gaza. I interfered and turned the discussion the other way, raised my big question about the birth of Fatah in 1958, that led to Oslo.

Out of sudden, the host turned the discussion into religion. He asked a Palestinian Sheikh to tell us about Shea, he spoke, until one guy asked: Are you telling us that Shea are not Muslims, Kuffar. The Shaikh said: I can't say that (Actually he said it indirectly). I decided to put the discussion on the right track. I told the Sheik: You said Palestinian People are great, and told us how you cried when you heard the story of a Palestinian man from Jerusalem, refused to sell his home untill the Jewish buyer obtain the signature of 1.3 billion Muslims. What do say about Palestinians who sold 78% of Palestine in Oslo? No answer was given, to avoid putting the issue on its legs.

You may remember, when I asked Tony what Hamas can do, He said: At least hide. He shacked his head on Hamas claiming it would stop the invasion.

When asked what Hamas can do to break the siege, he said: Hamas should change itself (Ideology), and align itself with Egyptian "Progressive" forces, not with Muslim brotherhood., Changing Egypt regime should be Hamas first priority. (Her, I advise you to read Gilad Atzmon - Thinking out of the Secular Box: The Left and Islam, which shall not appear on PP). And remember what I told you almost 2 years ago, about Tony, under the umbrailla of wearing beards and uniforms isrejecting Hamas because of its Islamic Ideology.

My answer for the same question; Hamas, within current condition, power balance, Gaza geopolitics, should insist on unity government with national constants. I know the dialogue shall lead to nowhere, and Hamas knows that better than me.

Let us remember that Hamas called for Dailogue, the next day after kicking Dayton's forces from Gaza, and let us remember that its Fath who refused the Dialogue all the time, and that Hamas steadiness forced both Fath and Cairo to accept Dialogue without conditions.

In calling for dialogue, and in going to endless dialogue, Hamas responded to Palestinian people, still believing that Fateh is a national liberation movement who missed the way, and wanting to see Palestinian factions united again.

In going to Cairo, Hamas was consistent with itself and avoided so may well set traps, foiled plans to send Arab troops to Gaza, exposed Fateh, gained the public relations battle, and deepened the rift in Fateh.

Hamas, in going to Cairo is buying time. I would say, the worst thing Hamas may do, is boycotting the dialogue, because that's exactly what Israel, the US, Egypt hope Hamas may do. I would say, the arrests, the killings going on in WB, are meant manly to push Hamas to boycott the dialogue and consequently to make poor starving Palestinian believe that Hamas is responsible for the siege.

Many, criticized Hamas for accepting the truce, and shot fast claiming that Hamas is selling Palestinian rights, while Hamas was preparing the ground for the next battle.

The Angry Arab, criticized Hizbullah for accepting resolution 1701. He listed many reasons why Lebanese should reject the resolution. Yes, the resolution brought the Lebanese army, and the international troops to south Lebanon, and thus Hezbullah lost the free hand there.

I don't want, now after 3 years, list reasons for accepting the resolution. Results speaks. The international troops protected Israel, but on the other hand, indirectly protected Hezbullah, and make tripling its force possible.

As for Quadoumi, he is one of Fateh founders, and staying within Fateh all this time, raise a big question about his credibility. I am inclined to believe that his Document is true, he should have used it after the death of Arafat. Most likely, he kept to blackmail Abbas, ensure funding. So its not a bomshell, it confirmed the confirmed. However, revealing it ahead of Fath conferance is good.

Suha Arafat, Arafat Nephew, his brothers, sisters, all know who killed Arafat, like Saad El Harifi knows who killed his father. Most likely, Abbass bought their silence and /or they wanted to save their asses.

lu said... [ A Great comment by Lucia from spain moved from comment section]

Thank you so much, UP, for your thoughtful response. I am glad to see that it fits my hypothesis too, at least, till AA's post shook and shocked me. I mean, my hypothesis over the necessity for holding unity dialogue were -roughly- five:

1. Division only helps the occupier barracks state, that jointly with the USA was the main actor inducing it - with the necessary collaboration of Fatah, of course.

2. Everybody, either people or parties, were pressing for unity talks. Hamas listens to the people, and then makes its own political analysis. Hamas is devoted to first strengthen the home front, these were its declarations from the beginning, when it participated in the elections. The home front had been destroyed, like all the rest, by Fatah, and made reaching office compulsory for Hamas in order to prevent Fatah from finishing off with what remained of the Palestinian cause. It was not -as some think- to mimic Fatah, on the contrary, it was to take to a different path, to divert from the one that was being followed by Fatah which only brought disgrace to the Palestinians. I recall various declarations of theirs after winning the elections: they wanted to buy electricity from Egypt instead of from Israel, they wanted to revert the commercial trade dependency from Israel, to whom they'd been enslaved by Oslo to buy everything from and were converted into cheap labour for outsourced Israeli manufacturing. They wanted to revisit the accords related to the gas fields. Etc. Not surprisingly they were not allowed to govern... (If they made any mistake, it was only being too honest and clear, which in politics is often self-damaging)

It is necessary to recall that both the media and the security had been grabbed by the Abbas-Dahlan gang at the request of the USA, right after Hamas had reached office. This forced Hamas to form its own police, to end up with all those sabotages, arsons, bombings, highjackings and murders. Even the Islamic University had not been spared! Law and order came back to Gaza thanks to Hamas. Luckily Hamas counted on its own media means, but weren't enough threatened as they were by Abbas-Fatah's "security" apparatuses in the W.B.- and in front of the well greased Fatah media. So, by sticking to hold unity talks, all the other parties, and surely many people as well, could realize that Fatah's war was against everybody and everything, as it has become clearer by now. Actually the chage in the actitude of the other parties has been obvious.

3. Favoring unity dialogue would also keep flowing the badly needed foreign aid. The hypocritical Europe only accepted Abbas/Fayyad as a partner and refused to deal with Hamas, the legal and democratically elected representatives of the Palestinians. One more disgrace that Fatah has poured over the Palestinians is making them wholly dependent on foreign aid. I cannot imagine a worse leadership and party in the world than Fatah and its cadres. It is very saddening that such a courageous and steadfast people as the Palestinians have had for tens of years a bunch of Fatah thugs to lead them. The Palestinians deserve much better, far much better. There is one thing I wholeheartedly agree with the A.A., and it is when he says that for him Arafat is not enough dead, and not enough deep underground either. Indeed! [ IDO]

4. Accepting unity conversations in Cairo also helped to avoid further irking Egypt, who had been converted in the laughingstock of the Arab world after the wall was yanked down by the people, under their very noses, hence the "break-your-legs" thing. The least the Gazans need is a direct confrontation with the Egyptians, despite Hamas knows all too well of their treason and collaboration with the zionists. Were Rafah crossing opened, there wouldn't be a siege, no matter how hard the zionists pressed for it. And no Palestinians would be dying in the tunnels every few days. This clear. The main responsibility for Gaza's siege relies on Egypt, and Hamas knows it perfectly, the same it knows the vicious low-level bloodless war that Egypt is playing against Palestine. But, even so, irking her would only make matters worse. At least, some days the gates are opened, and some flow in and off is permitted.

5. I agree with what you say and it conforts me to think that not everybody has been corrupted in Fatah, as AA says. The Fatah leadership has certainly been. But it is not possible that tens of hundreds of rank-and-file members have anything to do with that. It is to these people -maybe some of them brainwashed by propaganda, maybe others conditioned because their bread-winning depends of their PA's paid for salaries- to whom Hamas is reaching. That is what I think, or I what want to think, till facts can prove that I am wrong.

Thank you again UP, for sharing your views.

10:22 AM, July 15, 2009

2 comments:

Nadia said...

PA shuts down Al-Jazeera office in West Bank after it aired Tuesday statement made by Farouq Al-Qaddoumi accusing Abbas and Dahlan of having been involved in the killing of late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat with poison.

uprooted Palestinian said...

Shutting Al-Jazeerah and the angry reaction of PLO and fatah central commette, confirms, that quadoumi's document is true.
I read carfully the comments of Al-Jazeera, most of them were not surprised. However, I would say it is very important to hear it from a high Fath rank, rather than from Hamas. It is difficult to tell why Quadoumi was silent.

Taking into consideration, that Quadoumi is very close to Syrians, and consequentely to Palestinian factions based in Syria(may be he is an ex-baath - I am not sure), the failure of the Sixth round of Cairo dialoque, and the failure of fatah central commettee on Fath conferance, I guess, Fatah is ripe for an new internal Intifada. I shall not be surprised to see Quadoumin group, may be Hani Al-Hassan, and the old Fath Al-Intifada join togrther, to form a new fath, and pave the way for a new PLO.