Sixth general Fatah conference gets underway in Bethlehem

(4 Aug 2009) SHOTLIST AP Television Bethlehem, West Bank - 4 August 2009 1. Wide of Palestinian policemen marching next to nativity church 2. Palestinian policemen marching 3. Palestinian policemen at checkpoint, car entering conference compound Palestinian TV POOL Bethlehem, West Bank - 4 August 2009 4. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas entering conference, pan left to delegates applauding 5. Abbas greeting Senior Fatah official and chief Palestinian negotiator with Israel, Ahmed Qureia 6. Wide of conference poster showing picture of of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat 7. Delegates listening 8. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President: (++STARTS ON MID OF DELEGATES LISTENING++) "We are at the beginning of the historic path that will lead us to statehood." 9. Delegates listening, pan right AP Television Bethlehem, West Bank - 4 August 2009 10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jibril Rajoub, Senior Fatah Official: "I don't think that we came here to discuss the negotiations with the Israelis. The one who stopped the negotiations and is responsible is the Israeli government and it is up to the Israelis now to recharge their mental batteries and reconsider their policies towards the Palestinians. But I think that Fatah also needs, and this is what we are focusing on now, to reorganise and how to strengthen the movement. I think the conference is some kind of rebirth for the Fatah movement." 11. Mid of delegates at the conference AP Television Gaza City, Gaza Strip - 4 August 2009 13. Back shot of Fatah member Fesal Abu Shahla, who couldn't leave Gaza for conference, watching opening session on television 14. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Fesal Abu Shahla, Fatah Member: "I was looking forward to participate in the Fatah movement convention because initially, as people under occupation by Israel, we were banned from attending the convention during their occupation. Today we were supposed to be in this conference which is happening in the Palestinian land, however, we were prevented again by our brothers." AP Television Gaza City, Gaza Strip - 4 August 2009 15. Pan right from television to Fesal Abu Shahla watching the conference on TV AP Television Gaza City, Gaza Strip - 3 August 2009 16. Set-up shot of Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum 17. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman: "Fatah rejected all national, regional and Arab calls to release Hamas prisoners from West Bank jails. At the same time we have this conference which coincided with an unprecedented campaign against Hamas leaders in the West Bank, that is bound to complicate all the channels for Palestinian national dialogue, making any kind of engagement or dialogue even more difficult." 18. Barhoum talking on phone AP Television Jerusalem - 2 August 2009 19. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Ehud Barak, Israeli Defence Minister: "We will know only after the Fatah conference - at the conclusions stage and not the preparations - to what extent there is maturity in the other side to moving with momentum towards peace agreements, and I hope there will be such maturity." 20. Barak walking away STORYLINE: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Tuesday that Palestinians were "at the beginning of the historic path that will lead us to statehood." Abbas was addressing some 2,200 delegates at his Fatah movement's first convention in two decades. The Palestinian president also called for his people to limit their resistance to Israel to marches and protests and not to abandon peace talks despite years of setbacks. Abbas' job as party leader is not up for a vote. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...