Egypt seeks to delay PA elections
Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman expected to visit PA in order to mediate in crisis inside Fatah, between movement and various Palestinian organizations; senior Palestinian source: Abbas may resign
Omar Suleiman, Head of the Egyptian Intelligence Service, is expected to visit the Palestinian Authority this week in an effort to mediate in the crisis between Fatah and the various Palestinian organizations and try and find a common ground between the Authority and Fatah on the one hand, and between Fatah and the various Palestinian organizations on the other hand.
Egypt is concerned about the disorder in Palestinian politics ahead of the election expected to be held in January, in light of the internal deterioration inside Fatah, which has led to instability among the Palestinians.
Ynet has learned that Suliman will also push for delaying the PA elections.
Officially, Egypt does not interfere in the Authority's internal issues, such as setting and delaying the elections date. However, PA sources said that if Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas should ask Suleiman to mediate on the issue, Egypt would positively consider the request.
Simultaneously, Abbas is expected to visit Egypt in the next few days in order to update the Egyptians regarding the internal situation in Fatah and in the Authority.
Abbas will apparently also raise the possibility that Egypt would mediate between the organizations in a bid to delay the general elections, despite his obligation to hold the elections at their planned date of January 25.
Abbas' rival Farouk Kadumi, head of the PLO's political department and Fatah's official chairman, will also visit Egypt. The Egyptians are expected to ask him to solve his disagreement with the PA chairman.
'Abbas forced to deal with internal intrigues'
Abbas' associates said that the PA chairman has been looking depressed in the past few days and has shown his dissatisfaction in light of the internal struggles in his movement.
A senior official told Ynet that Abbas is positioning himself as a statesman who will lead the Palestinian people to a political agreement that will end the Israeli occupation. However, he is forced to deal with internal intrigues and disputes between Fatah's different groups.
"This has caused Abbas to loath his job, and I believe that it will not be a big surprise if he should resign after the elections, unless his party conforms to one central track," the official said.
He added that the joint statement by the two Fatah lists that they both belong to the movement and will unite after the elections did not succeed in calming the PA chairman.
Hamas' victory in the local elections, in parallel to the split inside the Fatah parliamentary list, has also raised the fear in the Authority and in the national community that Hamas would win the general elections or would gain accomplishments that will turn Hamas into an active force in the Palestinian government.
This fear, PA sources estimate, is the reason for Abbas' attempts to delay the elections.
