Fatah congress calls for UN General Assembly bid

Fatah's party congress urged the Palestinian Authority leadership to press ahead with its bid for recognition by the UN General Assembly, at the conclusion of a two-day meeting on Sunday. The Fatah Revolutionary Council met in Ramallah to discuss Palestinian affairs and Fatah's internal issues. President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the session, reiterating his commitment to reconciliation with Hamas and assuring of the Arab world's financial support to Palestine. A statement said the Fatah congress vowed its support to the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, and to the leadership's refusal to resume negotiations with Israel until it halts settlement building on Palestinian land. Fatah also applauded the Egyptian people for the democratic nature of its recent presidential election, saying this "indicates that Egypt is on the way to resume its major role in the Arab world." The statement said the meeting came amid the fifth anniversary of the "disastrous coup in the Gaza Strip" and the negative effects it had on the people of Gaza, stressing that Fatah would continue its efforts to "bring an end to the shameful and unusual situation in the Gaza Strip." After Hamas won national elections in 2006, rivalry with the Fatah incumbents exploded into near civil war, with the parties splitting Gaza and the West Bank into separate administrations. Despite a May 2011 reconciliation deal, fresh elections and unity remain elusive. Fatah is also facing internal disputes, after the Gaza leadership committee submitted their resignations in recent weeks to protest appointment decisions. Party recruitment commissioner Nabil Shaath said earlier the Revolutionary Council meeting would address the issue of replacing officials, and hear out the Gaza members complaints, but urged leaders not to discuss internal issues with the media. The Fatah statement did not refer to any discussions of the dispute.