As the possibility of Palestinian elections becomes more real, new and unexpected conflicts are propping up. In addition to the expected hurdles that Israel might put up, as well as the need for Fatah and Hamas to find common ground, an unexpected problem has arisen.

Disagreement over the leadership of the Jerusalem branch of Fatah blew up in late September as the central leadership appears to have tried to railroad a list of local leaders totally loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, a Fatah source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. The source insisted that the reason for intervention was the desire of the Fatah leadership — especially Abbas — not to give supporters of the renegade Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan any foothold in Palestine, and especially in the proposed Palestinian capital of Jerusalem.

Jamal Muheisen, member of the Fatah Central Committee in charge of membership and mobilization, announced on his Facebook page Sept. 30 the confirmation of the Fatah committee that he said was selected by consensus. He said that 22 individuals nominated themselves Sept. 16 and when seven of them withdrew the next day, the remaining 15 won unopposed by acclamation. A few days later, on Oct. 4, Muheisen met with the newly selected committee and witnessed the consensus on Shady Mutawar as secretary for the Jerusalem branch.

The confirmation of the new committee on Sept. 30 and the choosing of the local secretary triggered an angry response by many Fatah cadres who felt that their voice was dismissed and that Ramallah gave priority to loyalty over all other issues.