Arafat in Crisis Over Fatah Exodus

Hundreds of members of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement resigned at the weekend in protest at the lack of political reform, corruption and the leadership's failure to challenge the Israeli occupation.

The resignations are the latest evidence of a deepening crisis within the organisation that dominates Palestinian politics but is increasingly regarded with contempt by the public.

More than 350 activists signed the resignation letter delivered to Mr Arafat and Fatah's central committee. "Fatah is beginning to disintegrate as a result of internal contradictions, Fatah is not united," it said. "Fatah, as it stands today, is leading us toward tribalism, internal conflict and a bottomless pit."

The letter also referred to the growing lawlessness in several West Bank cities, notably Nablus and Jenin, since the Israeli army drove Palestinian police from the streets. Palestinians are killing each other in criminal violence and fights for political turf.

The letter singled out central committee member Khaled El-Hassan, who is close to Mr Arafat, "for leading Fatah toward disaster, division, catastrophes and detrimental fate".

Mr Arafat called an urgent meeting of the movement's leadership at his ruined compound in Ramallah yesterday to discuss the resignations. Mohammed al-Hourani, a member of Fatah's high committee and of the Palestinian parliament, said: "We need deep and wide reforms. We need a clear political plan. This letter reflects popular demands. We are a party in crisis."

Fatah's constitution requires leadership elections every five years, but none has been held for 15 years. Many members are frustrated at what they see as an aging leadership unable to confront the Israelis, but unwilling to surrender power.

The organisation has lunged from crisis to crisis during the latest intifada. Among these were the appointment of the former Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas and his cabinet. Mr Abbas refused to allow Fatah to dictate his policies andresigned from its central committee. Colleagues of Mr Abbas's successor, Ahmed Qureia, say the new prime minister's room for manoeuvre has been restricted by tthe Fatah leadership, which chose most of his cabinet.

The Israeli prime minister's office said yesterday that it will shorten the controversial "security fence" through the West Bank and move parts of it closer to the 1967 border. The changes are aimed at placating American criticism of the steel and concrete barrier, expected to be 370 miles long.

The revised route will be presented to US envoys visiting Israel this week to hear details of Ariel Sharon's plan for "unilateral disengagement" from the Palestinians.