عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Fatah Warns al-Qudwa against Fielding Separate List in Palestinian Elections

Palestinian parliamentary elections are set for May 22 amid discord in the Fatah movement. (AFP)
Palestinian parliamentary elections are set for May 22 amid discord in the Fatah movement. (AFP)
TT
20
TT

Fatah Warns al-Qudwa against Fielding Separate List in Palestinian Elections

Palestinian parliamentary elections are set for May 22 amid discord in the Fatah movement. (AFP)
Palestinian parliamentary elections are set for May 22 amid discord in the Fatah movement. (AFP)

Fatah warned its Central Committee member Nasser al-Qudwa against fielding a separate list in the upcoming legislative elections to compete against the movement.

Secretary of the Fatah Central Committee Jibril Rajoub threatened to dismiss Qudwa from his post if he went forward with the move.

The committee is expected to discuss the issue during a meeting chaired by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday.

Rajoub’s threat followed a tweet by committee member Hussein al-Sheikh, in which he affirmed that Fatah movement would submit a unified list for the polls.

In a Facebook post, Sheikh stressed that Fatah aims to consolidate democracy, maintain the national liberation project and protect national unity.

Prominent former and current officials in Fatah are preparing new electoral lists that could test the movement's unity and strength.

This could also pose a new challenge that might affect the presidential elections.

Qudwa, 67, a nephew of former Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) chairman Yasser Arafat, had announced the establishment of the Palestinian National Democratic Forum that would run in the elections, stressing that he was trying to return Fatah back on the right path.

He said he was opposed to the understanding reached between Fatah and Hamas, explaining that it will not help in resolving the internal division.

He also said he was opposed to prominent imprisoned Fatah member Marwan Barghouti’s running in the elections.

Member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council Hatem Abdel Qader told Asharq Al-Awsat that Barghouti is aware of the importance of the legislative elections.

Abdel Qader, who is close to Barghouti, confirmed that the detainee will run in the presidential elections, not the parliamentary polls, which are scheduled for May 22.

Sacked prominent Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan had also announced he would field a separate list.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Syrian Government Intensifies Security Measures in Druze Areas Near Damascus

Druze men carry weapons at a checkpoint in Jaramana near Damascus (AFP). 
Druze men carry weapons at a checkpoint in Jaramana near Damascus (AFP). 
TT
20
TT

Syrian Government Intensifies Security Measures in Druze Areas Near Damascus

Druze men carry weapons at a checkpoint in Jaramana near Damascus (AFP). 
Druze men carry weapons at a checkpoint in Jaramana near Damascus (AFP). 

The Syrian government is stepping up its security operations in Druze-majority towns in southern Syria, aiming to stabilize volatile areas in both rural Suwayda and the Damascus suburbs following recent sectarian unrest. Despite a newly brokered ceasefire, community leaders report that tensions remain in the districts of Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya.

Government forces continue to expand their presence in Al-Surah, a town in northern Suwayda, in an effort to push back armed groups operating outside state control. The campaign comes amid fears of renewed violence, particularly after clashes earlier this week that were sparked by the leak of an audio recording allegedly featuring a Druze cleric making offensive comments about Islam.

The recording ignited two days of violent confrontations, starting in Jaramana on Tuesday and spreading to Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, resulting in multiple casualties.

On Wednesday evening, a high-level meeting in Damascus brought together the governors of Suwayda, Rural Damascus, and Quneitra, alongside prominent Druze clerics and community leaders. According to Bassem Abu Fakhr, spokesperson for the “Men of Dignity” movement led by Sheikh Yahya Al-Hajjar, the meeting led to a ceasefire agreement and a plan to regulate arms in the region. Under the agreement, only personnel from the Ministries of Defense and Interior will be authorized to carry weapons.

Abu Fakhr told Asharq Al-Awsat that the deal also authorizes General Security forces to enter Ashrafiyat Sahnaya and assume control, with assurances that civilians would be protected from attacks by any group. A joint oversight committee was established to monitor compliance with the agreement’s terms.

In a statement published on its Telegram channel, the Suwayda Governorate confirmed the preliminary ceasefire and emphasized the importance of a cooperative approach to halt bloodshed and restore calm. Security officials also declared the conclusion of a military operation in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, with security chief Hossam Al-Tahan reporting that government forces had entered all neighborhoods and begun efforts to restore order.

Despite these moves, local residents report that tensions are far from resolved. In Jaramana, civil society representative Rabih Munzer described the atmosphere as “tense” and said that checkpoints at the city’s entrances are now manned by local General Security forces. He noted that the recent agreement has yet to be enacted, and a previous deal signed in March remains unimplemented.

Responding to calls from Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri for the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in Syria, Munzer stated: “We are responsible for our own words—not the words of others.” He also warned of continued provocations by armed groups surrounding the city, including sniper fire and sporadic gunshots targeting civilians.

Further south in Al-Surah, security deployments continue under the supervision of the Suwayda Governor and the commander of the Syrian Army’s 40th Division. State-run media released images of security forces in the area, including photos of the governor overseeing the operation to pave the way for displaced residents to return safely.

However, Abu Fakhr warned that several villages—Kanaker, Ara, Sass, Al-Surah, and Dama—remain under threat from what he described as jihadist groups.