Fatah vows to file libel suit against Sawiris

Fatah vowed yesterday to sue the Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris on charges of plotting against the Palestinian people and President Mahmoud Abbas and interfering in Palestinian internal affairs.

Through his privately-owned Dream channel Sawiris yesterday criticised “Abbas and accused him of taking Palestinian Investment Fund money and using it to invest in his own companies”.

A member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, Mowaffaq Matar said in a press statement that Sawiris’ statements were “part of a plot against the Palestinian President and reveal his immorality”.

Matar said: “We will prosecute those who insult the Palestinian president and Fatah chairman in accordance with the laws of justice to show the populous will supporting Abbas.”

Matar said Sawiris’ statements were insulting to Fatah and the Palestinian people; pointing out that Fatah has every right to prosecute him anywhere in the world for “committing libel and slander and insulting the Palestinian people and their president”.

The Egyptian Dream channel on Monday hosted evening former Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan who is known for his rivalry with Abbas; in a lengthy interview which lasted more than two hours, Dahlan criticised Abbas in response to the latter’s accusing him of poisoning the late President Yasser Arafat.