Fatah leaders stressed that it was a draft, and did not have the support of the movement's military wing.

Israeli officials said it seemed likely that the Fatah leader had blown himself up while preparing a bomb.

While in prison, he met a local Fatah leader, who recommended that he be accepted into the organization, which was then secretive.

The court documents say he is a senior Fatah leader who had a hand in drafting several uprising leaflets last year and early this year.

He was released along with Arafat and two other Fatah leaders in August.

For the second day in a row, the young Fatah leaders met here to discuss how to bring coherence to their fractured faction.

During this uprising he, like other Fatah leaders, contended they could not take such action.

These are corrupt people," he said, referring to Fatah leaders.

In Jenin, Fatah leaders say they have received no instructions to prepare to take control.

They said corrupt Fatah leaders had skimmed off much of the money anyway.