The Palestinian Fatah movement has decided to resolve all outstanding issues in the Gaza Strip before the general elections in May.
Movement officials affirmed that President Mahmoud Abbas has formed a committee in this regard and ordered Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh to resolve matters as soon as possible.
Fatah Central Committee member Azzam Al-Ahmad, who is also member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Committee, said the president issued clear instructions to resolve all issues within days, mainly those on financial retirement and salary cuts.
Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq al-Tirawi noted that employee problems in the Strip would be resolved on several phases.
The committee formed by Abbas will find solutions to the problems and then present them to the Central Committee, he added.
These statements were welcomed in the Strip, where public sector employees have been suffering from salary cuts and many were referred to early retirement.
Abbas’s move came in line with his movement’s preparations to run for the legislative elections, scheduled for May 22, and aims to attract more votes.
These decisions were taken during a central committee meeting on Sunday that was chaired by Abbas.
Participants discussed the elections, including alliances, and whether forming a national list with other factions, including Gaza’s rulers Hamas, was possible.
Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Fatah’s decision to form a list under the PLO umbrella indicated that every faction is welcome to join.
This would complicate the possibility of forming a joint list between Fatah and Hamas, which rejects the PLO’s commitments.
Sources said a PLO list will most probably be formed, without Hamas, but he stressed that all options are possible.
Fatah deputy chief Mahmoud al-Aloul said on Monday that this issue has not yet been decided.
