Ma'an Jerusalem – Two days before the Palestinian Legislative Council elections, strong debate broke out in response to allegations that the US provided support for the Fateh party.
The head of the President's office in the Palestinian Authority, Rafik Al Husseini, denied reports that Fateh received covert financial assistance to the tune of two million USD from the US government.
Husseini expressed astonishment at the timing of the report, claiming that it is being used to defame Fateh in the run-up to the elections. He noted that the US government gives the PA 450 million USD every year in aid. He said that the US provided the disputed 2 million USD to the PA, not Fateh.
The PA official said the allegations began with Bush administration officials who are sympathetic with the Israeli right wing. He said that such individuals wish to see Hamas win controlling seats in the PLC, rather than Fateh. He alleged that Fateh presents a challenge to these individuals, as the party is seeking peace with Israel.
Husseini also denied allegations that Fateh candidates used PA accomplishments to support their campaigns. He questioned why it is illegal for Fateh candidates to use PA accomplishments in their campaigns when other parties use PA failures to attack Fateh.
Fateh candidate Hatem Abdul Kader denied the reports of US support for Fateh as well. He said that Fateh raised its own funds and is not financially supported by any other country. He claimed that the campaign budget for Fateh is significantly less than the budgets for other parties taking part in the elections.
Kader expressed surprise that other parties are not receiving criticism for spending ‘tens of millions of dollars on their campaigns.’ He said, ‘We will not be affected by such allegations and we are going to enter the elections based on the confidence of our Palestinian people.’
Hamas candidate, Mahmoud Azahar, accused the US of dealing with Palestinians ‘as tools which can be bought with money.’ He pointed to US Vice President Dick Cheney's tour of the Middle East in which Cheney declared that the US will deal only with the PA if certain parties are successful.
Azahar said, ‘The American position and its interference is disgusting and lacks ethics. They brought Hamid Karzai to Afghanistan and appointed agents in Iraq, now they are interfering in Palestine.’ He accused the PA of receiving money from the US for illegal plans and said that Hamas is suing the PA over the issue.
The Hamas leader and candidate accused Israel of aiding Fateh by presenting initiatives such as handing over East Jerusalem neighborhoods to the PA and allowing Marwan Al Barghouti to speak on Al Jazeera. Azahar added that Hamas respects Al Barghouti, the imprisoned Fateh list head, but pointed out that many Hamas members and candidates are currently held by the Israelis.
Third Way list candidate, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, said that if allegations of US funding for Fateh are true it represesnts, ‘unacceptable interference in the electoral process.’
She said, ‘Regardless of which party receives such money, it is forbidden.’ Dr. Ashrawi continued, ‘We look at this money as a bribe, and I am against bribes. Whoever wants to help people can help them after the elections.’ She said that such money should be given to the poor and marginalized people rather than, ‘people with a fleet of cars.’
Dr. Ashrawi said that Fateh can use PA accomplishments in their publicity if the party also takes responsibility for the lawlessness and corruption that the PA is accused of doing little to combat.
The Third Way list candidate also accused Al Jazeera Satellite Channel of giving Fateh greater publicity than other parties through its interview on Sunday with Marwan Al Bargouti.
Head of the Palestinian Independent list, Dr. Moustafa Barghouti, accused the PA of using all its resources for the Fateh campaign. He claimed that although US support for Fateh aims to decrease the ability of Hamas to be successful in the elections, ‘any foreign interference will strengthen Hamas.’ He added that the US must accept any choice the Palestinian people making.
Dr. Moustafa Barghouti stated, ‘As long as the Palestinian people don't interfere in the US elections, then the US has no right to interfere in Palestinian elections.’
He also accused Al Jazeera of holding a bias towards Fateh, citing Sunday's interview with Marwan Al Barghouti.
Independent candidate in Jerusalem, Fadwa Khader, labeled any attempt by the US to support a candidate as against Palestinian Law. She said, ‘Those who receive US money should be held accountable. This is something dangerous if it happened.’ She called for foreign aid to be distributed to the poor rather than PLC candidates.
Al Jazeera correspondent Walid Al Omari denied accusations made by Dr. Hanan Ashrawi and Dr. Moustafa Barghouti that the satellite channel is biased towards Fateh.
He described the allegations as ‘baseless’ and said the channel does its best to remained balanced.
Omari pointed out that during a PLC elections debate held on the channel, he had to remind Dr. Barghouti several times to stay on topic. He confirmed that during the debate, the channel gave each candidate a ten minute time period to present their platform.
Concerning the interview with Marwan Al Barghouti, he said that arrangements began over a year and a half ago. He claimed that Israel informed him that he could hold the interview a month ago, and he could not postpone it. He noted that Al Barghouti is a young Palestinian leader who is very popular among the Palestinian people.