Palestinian P.M. Abbas Quits Fatah Post

[DoYouEverWonder]

AP Wire

July 8, 2003, 1:47 PM EDT

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas resigned from a top post in the Fatah movement Tuesday, a senior Palestinian source said, reflecting a split within the main Palestinian political group over negotiations with Israel.

Abbas stepped down from his position as deputy head of the Fatah Central Committee, the movement's top executive body, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Fatah, headed by Yasser Arafat, has been in turmoil over declaration of a unilateral cease-fire since last month.

Another top Fatah official said that Abbas' move might be a ploy aimed at forcing recalcitrant Fatah members to agree to the way he is handling contacts with Israel, adding that Abbas was likely to withdraw his resignation.

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[Tinoire]

1. Interesting. Will be watching these developments closely...

Too bad the US and Israel don't realize that as long as Arafat is the elected leader, that's whom they need to deal with unless of course, all they're interested in is smoke and mirrors.