Former Palestinian foreign minister Nasser al-Qudwa sharply criticised the leadership of Fatah, accusing it of stripping the movement of its national content and turning its eighth conference into a controlled gathering designed to serve the current leadership.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Mubasher, al-Qudwa said the conference lacked a clear legal and organisational basis, both in determining membership and shaping the political programme.
He argued that Fatah has gradually lost its historic role in leading the Palestinian national project and confronting the Israeli occupation.
According to al-Qudwa, the crisis within Fatah has been developing for more than 15 years and deepened as the movement became increasingly intertwined with the institutions of the Palestinian Authority.
He said President Mahmoud Abbas shaped the outcomes of the conference to guarantee predetermined results, which he claimed weakened the movement institutionally and encouraged individualistic and interest-driven behaviour among some members.
