Arafat gunmen break up conference of reformers

NABLUS, West Bank – Masked gunmen loyal to Yasser Arafat broke up a conference of reformers from his Fatah movement who were calling for a “revolution” as the veteran Palestinian leader faces new sharp divisions among his people.

The incident in the West Bank city of Nablus was the latest in weeks of internal Palestinian unrest. The unrest centers on charges of widespread corruption in Arafat’s administration and, beneath the surface, frustration with lack of progress on the creation of a Palestinian state or economic development after four years of bloody conflict with Israel.

In Gaza early today, Israeli forces entered the Khan Younis refugee camp. As bulldozers destroyed a building, soldiers opened fire, and a woman was killed when a bullet went through her window, residents said. Six other civilians were wounded, doctors said.

Military sources said the operation was aimed at the “terrorist infrastructure” in the camp. The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said militants had used the camp to fire mortars and rifles at a nearby Jewish settlement.

Less than a week after Arafat had ended a crisis in the Palestinian Cabinet, he was again under pressure from some of his own supporters to make changes, although there was no suggestion Arafat himself should go.

About 20 men, all armed and many wearing ski masks, burst into a conference of more than 70 Fatah officials, firing over the heads of the presiding officials and claiming that the conference was an anti-Arafat conspiracy.

The weeklong meeting was meant to discuss reform and new elections of the Fatah leadership, which last were held 15 years ago.

No one was injured by the gunfire, but the meeting broke up. Several delegates met with the gunmen to discuss whether the conference could continue.

The gunmen identified themselves as members of the Al Awda Brigades, a small militant group.

In a letter released to reporters later, the Fatah leaders warned Arafat that corrupt officials “are using their position in the Palestinian Authority to steal and to break the law” and that the Palestinian government is losing the public’s trust.

“President Arafat, this might be the last chance for reforming our situation before reaching the end. We need a revolution within our Fatah movement,” said the letter.

In a separate development, Mohammed Dahlan, a former security chief and powerful figure in the Gaza Strip, threatened huge demonstrations unless Arafat reforms his government within 10 days.

“Arafat now sits on the bodies and ruins of Palestinians at a time when they most need support,” Dahlan was quoted as saying by a Kuwaiti newspaper Sunday.

Demanding reform in the Palestinian Authority, Dahlan was quoted as saying he doesn’t want to destroy Arafat’s image but to “correct it so it will stay beautiful.”