Fatah warned its Central Committee member Nasser al-Qudwa against fielding a separate list in the upcoming legislative elections to compete against the movement.
Secretary of the Fatah Central Committee Jibril Rajoub threatened to dismiss Qudwa from his post if he went forward with the move.
The committee is expected to discuss the issue during a meeting chaired by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday.
Rajoub’s threat followed a tweet by committee member Hussein al-Sheikh, in which he affirmed that Fatah movement would submit a unified list for the polls.
In a Facebook post, Sheikh stressed that Fatah aims to consolidate democracy, maintain the national liberation project and protect national unity.
Prominent former and current officials in Fatah are preparing new electoral lists that could test the movement's unity and strength.
This could also pose a new challenge that might affect the presidential elections.
Qudwa, 67, a nephew of former Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) chairman Yasser Arafat, had announced the establishment of the Palestinian National Democratic Forum that would run in the elections, stressing that he was trying to return Fatah back on the right path.
He said he was opposed to the understanding reached between Fatah and Hamas, explaining that it will not help in resolving the internal division.
He also said he was opposed to prominent imprisoned Fatah member Marwan Barghouti’s running in the elections.
Member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council Hatem Abdel Qader told Asharq Al-Awsat that Barghouti is aware of the importance of the legislative elections.
Abdel Qader, who is close to Barghouti, confirmed that the detainee will run in the presidential elections, not the parliamentary polls, which are scheduled for May 22.
Sacked prominent Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan had also announced he would field a separate list.
