Leaders of Fatah, headed by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, are reaching out to Iran as a strategic partner, following last month’s talks between PA negotiator Saeb Erekat and the Iranian foreign minister in Egypt.

Their discussion was the first time a top PA official has publicly talked with the Iranian foreign minister. Ruled by Shi'ite Muslim fundamentalists, Iran has had inconsistent relations with the PLO since the days of Yasser Arafat.

"The challenges that face the Palestinian people, in terms of unprecedented attacks and dangers in Jerusalem, oblige the Fatah movement to formulate its regional strategic alliances based on new principles and criteria," said Hatem Abdel Kader, the Jerusalem affairs liaison for the PA.

He said he was referring to the Fatah party and not to the PA, but last month’s discussions with the Iranian foreign minister indicated an attempt to close ranks with Tehran, which has threatened several times to eliminate Israel.

An alliance with Iran, an ally of Fatah’s arch-rival Hamas, may be raised at the Fatah convention taking place in Bethlehem this week.

Iran, at least for public consumption, has been distant from the PA, partly because Yasser Arafat was close with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Nevertheless, a direct connection between Iran and Fatah, under the leadership of Arafat, was clear before the Hamas coup that ousted Fatah from Gaza three years ago. The Karin-A ship, which the IDF intercepted in 2002 on its way from Iran to Gaza, was loaded with a large amount of weapons, including missiles, and explosives.

Later the same year, the IDF discovered documents detailing arms deals between the PA and Iran. An aide to Arafat admitted at the time that the weapons were to be purchased with money contributed by Western countries.