Interview: Fatah new leadership to follow Arafat's steps: Dahlan

    SHOTLIST:

    1 Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, communicating with others

    2 Various of participants

    3 Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, receiving interview

    4 Cutaway of Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee

    5 Various of Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, walking

    6 Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, entering a house

    7 Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, receiving interview

    8 SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, "The conference was very much successful because it has not taken place in 20 years. President was pleased by the results of the election of the central committee, of the results of the fatah conference, because of the fact that the new faces of different people that involved in the conference. More importantly is this election of the conference has allowed the Fatah movement to move forward, give them new life and new ability, our job now are being able to revive to make it stronger. One thing that is very good in terms of the results is that the conference is to give president Abbes great strength in term of holding on position that cannot be negotiations with continued Israeli colonization and settlement activity which also improve our position with Hamas and Palestinian people."

    9 SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "What is your vision of the reform of Fatah ? How will Fatah rebuild its image among the Palestinian people and prepare for future elections?"

    10 SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, "When talking about Fatah it is really important to keep in mind that there is no corruption in Fatah as a movement. The corruption exists within the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and because of that being reflected on the Fatah movement, But as a movement itself actually didn't exist. So basis of the actual movement is very strong one. What become clear is lacking of strong leadership. we have strong leadership now we have strong leadership 80% of them are new faces within the central committee, 95% of the people who are in the revolutionary council are both new faces and from the younger generation, this are allow people to move forward."

    11 SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, "First I want to both thank the Chinese people and thank the government of china for their continuous support of Palestinian people, I want to recall that the first training of PLO and Fatah undertaken was actually carried out in Chin some many years ago, so I wish to thank the Chinese people and china for their support."

    12 SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "As the new leadership were made of young generation, is there any more flexible stance in future peace talks?"

    13 SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, "When talking about fatah, we all have the same position performed by president Arafat many many years ago, many years ago he decided that he is going to give up his claim to 78% of historic Palestine to exchange Israeli recognizing our right to exist on the remaining 22% of occupies since 1967, when talking about the position of fatah particular this younger generation it' s impossible to say that there one person extreme or the other person who is more moderate, we all hold on to the same position which is we are not going to give in to we are not submit to Israel' s ongoing occupation and colonization of Palestine. What we want to see is a free and independent Palestine."

    14 SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "What will happen if the peace talks cannot make substantial progress?"

    15 SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, "This is responsibility rest primarily on the international community and it's going to be the blame were lay barely on Israeli shoulder and shoulders of the United States, and not on us. In essence there have not been any negotiations since the year 2000 there hasn't been anything that has been real since that period of time. So what becomes critical important is that we begin to see things are moving in the right direction. We need to have time frame."

    16 SOUNDBITE(arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee "It really doesn't concern me whether Hamas likes me or whether I like Hamas, it isn't really a personal issue, but one of a political position, but the question is how is we are going to move forward. Hamas now facing a junction .We have 2 choices we can move forward with. I certainly hope that they take the first choice. My first choice is that we move forward with Hamas in terms of negotiation and talks with Hamas be able to come up with a unified vision, be able to come up with means of ending this current crisis and current conflict that we have internally. But if that is something that Hamas does not want, then we have the other options as well. We are going to be meeting with members of Hamas in the coming days and I certainly hope we can reach some sort of agreement."

    17 SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "What is your expectation on this round of dialogue?"

    18 SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee "I don' t know actually going to have this meeting that is going to take place on 25th or in to expect way the session of PLC where the dialogues take place. I think it is important to have Hamas to understand the new message that it is coming from this new leadership. The message that we are giving from this new leadership, from this Fatah' s leadership that Hamas is facing a choice as Jan.25, 2010; it will have lost its legitimacy."

    19 SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "As you are the youngest member of central committee, what are you going to bring to fatah?"

    20 SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee "In term of the work, that we have putting forward there are a lot of work need to be done by fatah, I will represent the generation of individuals who really want to see some change in the movement. I am going to be representing the voice of a number of people who have wanted to see great transparency within the movement, who want to see the great participation in the movement, who want to be able to see some changes in the movement."

    21 SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "Can you specify the dreams of younger generation?"

    22 SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee "The most important of that is ending of the Israeli military occupation , through that as well they want to see a clean and transparent leadership and they want to be able to participate in the construction of their state." 23 Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, shaking hands with reporter from Xinhua News Agency 24 Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, communicating with others 25 Various of participants

    STORYLINE:

    The new Fatah leadership will follow the steps of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in dealing with Israel, Mohammed Dahlan, the youngest member of the newly elected Fatah's central committee, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Wednesday.

    Dahlan praised Fatah's sixth general conference that wrapped up on Aug. 13 and the new Fatah leadership that was elected, adding that it was "very successful".

    Dahlan, 48, is the youngest member of the newly elected Fatah's central committee, the highest decision-making body of the main stream Palestinian movement.

    Born in a refugee family in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, he is known as co-founder of the Gaza branch of the Fatah Youth Movement, Shabibat Fatah, and former security chief.

    Xinhua News Correspondents in Ramallah have this exclusive story: ' SOUNDBITE (Arabic) : Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, "The conference was very much successful because it has not taken place in 20 years. President was pleased by the results of the election of the central committee, of the results of the fatah conference, because of the fact that the new faces of different people that involved in the conference. More importantly is this election of the conference has allowed the Fatah movement to move forward, give them new life and new ability, our job now are being able to revive to make it stronger. One thing that is very good in terms of the results is that the conference is to give president Abbes great strength in term of holding on position that cannot be negotiations with continued Israeli colonization and settlement activity which also improve our position with Hamas and Palestinian people."

    SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "What is your vision of the reform of Fatah? How will Fatah rebuild its image among the Palestinian people and prepare for future elections?"

    SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee "When talking about Fatah it is really important to keep in mind that there is no corruption in Fatah as a movement. The corruption exists within the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and because of that being reflected on the Fatah movement, But as a movement itself actually didn't exist.

    So basis of the actual movement is very strong one. What become clear is lacking of strong leadership. we have strong leadership now we have strong leadership 80% of them are new faces within the central committee, 95% of the people who are in the revolutionary council are both new faces and from the younger generation, this are allow people to move forward.

    Since the international community including China is closely watching the new Fatah leadership, especially keep an eye on how it will impact the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, people are wondering whether the stalked Palestinian-Israeli negotiations will restart soon."

    SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee "First I want to both thank the Chinese people and thank the government of China for their continuous support of Palestinian people, I want to recall that the first training of PLO and Fatah undertaken was actually carried out in Chin some many years ago, so I wish to thank the Chinese people and China for their support.

    SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "As the new leadership were made of young generation, is there any more flexible stance in future peace talks?"

    SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee, "When talking about fatah, we all have the same position performed by president Arafat many many years ago, many years ago he decided that he is going to give up his claim to 78% of historic Palestine to exchange Israeli recognizing our right to exist on the remaining 22% of occupies since 1967, when talking about the position of fatah particular this younger generation it's impossible to say that there one person extreme or the other person who is more moderate, we all hold on to the same position which is we are not going to give in to we are not submit to Israel's ongoing occupation and colonization of Palestine. What we want to see is a free and independent Palestine.

    SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "What will happen if the peace talks cannot make substantial progress?"

    SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee "This is responsibility rest primarily on the international community and it's going to be the blame were lay barely on Israeli shoulder and shoulders of the United States, and not on us. In essence there have not been any negotiations since the year 2000 there hasn't been anything that has been real since that period of time. So what becomes critical important is that we begin to see things are moving in the right direction. We need to have time frame. Dahlan, who used to be the top security chief in Gaza before the Hamas' takeover of Gaza in 2007 after routing pro-Abbas forces and ousting Fatah. Abbas consolidated his rule in the West Bank, widening political crack with Gaza besides the already geographical split.

    At the general convention of the mainstream Fatah movement this month, Dahlan was elected as a member of the central committee despite Hamas' plans to block this by preventing the Gaza-based members of the convention from traveling to the West Bank.

    SOUNDBITE(arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee "It really doesn't concern me whether hamas likes me or whether I like Hamas, it isn't really a personal issue, but one of a political position, but the question is how is we are going to move forward. Hamas now facing a junction. We have 2 choices we can move forward with. I certainly hope that they take the first choice. My first choice is that we move forward with Hamas in terms of negotiation and talks with Hamas be able to come up with a unified vision, be able to come up with means of ending this current crisis and current conflict that we have internally But if that is something that Hamas does not want, then we have the other options as well. We are going to be meeting with members of Hamas in the coming days and I certainly hope we can reach some sort of agreement.

    SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "What is your expectation on this round of dialogue?"

    SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee "I don' t know actually going to have this meeting that is going to take place on 25th or in to expect way the session of PLC where the dialogues take place. I think it is important to have Hamas to understand the new message that it is coming from this new leadership. The message that we are giving from this new leadership, from this Fatah's leadership that Hamas is facing a choice as Jan.c25, 2010; it will have lost its legitimacy.

    SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "As you are the youngest member of central committee, what are you going to bring to fatah?"

    SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee "In term of the work, that we have putting forward there are a lot of work need to be done by fatah, I will represent the generation of individuals who really want to see some change in the movement. I am going to be representing the voice of a number of people who have wanted to see great transparency within the movement, who want to see the great participation in the movement, who want to be able to see some changes in the movement.

    SOUNDBITE(English): Qi Xianghui, Xinhua correspondent "Can you specify the dreams of younger generation?"

    SOUNDBITE(Arabic): Mohammed Dahlan, the newly-elected member of Fatah's central committee "The most important of that is ending of the Israeli military occupation , through that as well they want to see a clean and transparent leadership and they want to be able to participate in the construction of their state." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ramallah. (XHTV)