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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Fatah holds key party congress | Fatah holds key party congress |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction has begun a congress - its first in 20 years. | Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction has begun a congress - its first in 20 years. |
| Speaking at the congress, Mr Abbas said Palestinians sought peace with Israel but "resistance" remained an option. | Speaking at the congress, Mr Abbas said Palestinians sought peace with Israel but "resistance" remained an option. |
| Fatah is widely seen as corrupt and ineffective, the BBC's Middle East correspondent Tim Franks says. | Fatah is widely seen as corrupt and ineffective, the BBC's Middle East correspondent Tim Franks says. |
| Our correspondent says there will be close interest in who is elected to the faction's main internal positions of power. | Our correspondent says there will be close interest in who is elected to the faction's main internal positions of power. |
| Some 2,000 delegates are convening for Fatah's three-day congress in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. | Some 2,000 delegates are convening for Fatah's three-day congress in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. |
| An estimated 400 Fatah delegates who live in the Gaza Strip were banned from travelling to Bethlehem for the conference by the territory's rulers, Hamas. | An estimated 400 Fatah delegates who live in the Gaza Strip were banned from travelling to Bethlehem for the conference by the territory's rulers, Hamas. |
| The Palestinians of course are committed to a peaceful solution, however, we maintain the right for armed struggle when it is necessary and as an option Mahmoud Abbas | |
| Israel had allowed about 500 delegates who live abroad to travel to the congress. | Israel had allowed about 500 delegates who live abroad to travel to the congress. |
| "Having the conference at all is a miracle, and having it in the homeland is another miracle," Mr Abbas said on Tuesday. | |
| Commenting on the conference, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev, said: "Israel seeks peace and reconciliation with our Palestinian neighbours - reconciliation that must be based on both sides recognising the rights of the other: Israel recognising that the Palestinians have national rights, and the Palestinians recognising that Jews have national rights too." | Commenting on the conference, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev, said: "Israel seeks peace and reconciliation with our Palestinian neighbours - reconciliation that must be based on both sides recognising the rights of the other: Israel recognising that the Palestinians have national rights, and the Palestinians recognising that Jews have national rights too." |
| Renewal | Renewal |
| The congress will be discussing a new platform that seeks to rejuvenate the movement. | The congress will be discussing a new platform that seeks to rejuvenate the movement. |
| Another key test will be whether the conference alters the wording of Fatah's charter, which refers to eradicating Israel. | Another key test will be whether the conference alters the wording of Fatah's charter, which refers to eradicating Israel. |
| Profile: Fatah Palestinian movement Breathing life back into Nablus Gazans seek end to bitter split Who are Hamas? | Profile: Fatah Palestinian movement Breathing life back into Nablus Gazans seek end to bitter split Who are Hamas? |
| The draft document proposes to keep the option of "armed struggle" if peace talks with Israel fail. | The draft document proposes to keep the option of "armed struggle" if peace talks with Israel fail. |
| It also says that an Israeli settlement freeze in the West Bank is a precondition for any further talks with Israel. | It also says that an Israeli settlement freeze in the West Bank is a precondition for any further talks with Israel. |
| The congress comes as the US is hoping to broker a new round of peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. | The congress comes as the US is hoping to broker a new round of peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. |
| Maybe more important is the issue of who the delegates elect to the internal positions of power, our correspondent says. | Maybe more important is the issue of who the delegates elect to the internal positions of power, our correspondent says. |
| He adds that - in the words of one reformer - the current leaders are like princes in the Gulf. | He adds that - in the words of one reformer - the current leaders are like princes in the Gulf. |
| Opinion polls still suggest that Fatah is currently more popular than its main rival - the Islamist Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip. | Opinion polls still suggest that Fatah is currently more popular than its main rival - the Islamist Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip. |
| But without a strong infusion of freshness, in the long-term Palestinians say that Fatah will only decline, our correspondent says. | But without a strong infusion of freshness, in the long-term Palestinians say that Fatah will only decline, our correspondent says. |