A top decision- making body in Palestinian President Yasser Arafatâs Fatah group on Saturday reiterated calls for a ceasefire with Israel but failed to announce major reforms of the group.
| "Nope. Nope. We're fine. What's to change?" |
The Fatah Revolutionary Council said in a statement after a four-day meeting that it was in favour of a mutual ceasefire. The meeting was a bid to head off a slide into chaos signalled by mass Fatah resignations, accusations of corruption by the groupâs ruling old guard and its faltering control over Fatah militants. âFatahâs Revolutionary Council announces Fatahâs commitment to the peace process,â the statement said. âBased on this, the Revolutionary Council urges Israel to an immediate mutual and binding ceasefire agreement.â
| "Set the peace processor on 'puree' and fire 'er up!" |
The council said it would form a committee âto carry out internal reforms... within (Fatahâs) central committee, down to the smallest organisational cell (in Fatah)â. It was the councilâs first meeting since the start of a Palestinian uprising three years ago. It said it would reconvene in a year.
| "Yup. We're right on top of it. Next year'll be here before y'know it!" |
Participants in the session said there was no discussion at the council on disarming Fatahâs armed wing, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, that has carried out dozens of attacks on Israelis since the September 2000 start of the Palestinian uprising.
| "Do we look like we're crazy? We ain't bullet-proof, y'know!" |
Azzam Al-Ahmad, a member of Fatahâs Revolutionary Council, said that should Israel agree to a ceasefire, the resolutions of the council would be binding to al-Aqsa as well.
| Even cheddar isn't binding to the al-Aqsa Martyrs... |
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