The U.S. administration gave Fatah $50 million to cover expenses for the Sixth Fatah General Conference that was held earlier this month, according to a report in the Syrian daily Al-Watan that was translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). The paper said that the financial support was an attempt to strengthening Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
However, said the paper, the U.S. rejected Abbas' request for permission to fire Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.