Palestinian sources: Marwan Barghouti proposes unified Fatah list for legislative elections

Imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti has proposed forming a unified electoral list bringing together different factions and currents within the movement ahead of the Palestinian legislative elections, according to Palestinian officials.

The reported initiative comes as Fatah faces efforts to consolidate competing electoral lists ahead of the deadline for registering candidates for the upcoming vote.

According to Palestinian officials cited in the report, Barghouti conveyed the proposal through two lawyers who recently visited him in prison.

The initiative calls for a single electoral list under the Fatah name that would include the movement’s official leadership as well as the Democratic Reform Current led by Mohammed Dahlan.

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It would also seek to incorporate other Fatah-affiliated lists currently being considered, including one associated with former minister and Palestinian legislator Qaddura Fares.

Under the reported proposal, Fatah members who were previously expelled from the movement would be reinstated and have their organizational and financial rights restored.

The initiative also calls for the establishment of a committee following the elections to consider how the movement’s different currents could be represented within Fatah’s governing institutions.

Separate proposals under discussion include convening a new Fatah General Conference with participation from the movement’s various factions and currents to elect a new leadership and other institutional bodies.

The reported initiative reflects efforts to prevent divisions within Fatah from producing competing electoral lists, which could split the movement’s vote.

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