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.
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Al-Qudwa acknowledged that certain outcomes of the conference were broadly accepted by segments of the Palestinian public, including the advancement of imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti and former commander Zakaria Zubeidi into leadership positions.
However, he argued that these developments did not change what he described as the leadership’s continued dominance over the movement.
He also commented on the strong showing of Yasser Abbas in conference voting, saying it reflected the influence of the inner circle surrounding the Palestinian president rather than being a surprise outcome.
Al-Qudwa further criticised the broader Palestinian political system, saying the Palestinian Authority lacks genuine democratic mechanisms and arguing that meaningful reform requires comprehensive presidential and legislative elections rather than internal organisational votes alone.
He added that he himself had been prevented from participating in the conference despite previously serving on Fatah’s Central Committee, and said he refused to take part in what he described as a framework lacking legitimacy.
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