Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbass influential Chief of Staff Rafik Husseini has been fired following an investigation into charges that he sought sexual favours from a woman job applicant. Abbass decision to sack his close aide was taken in accordance with the findings of a special commission of inquiry that was established to look into the scandal,popularly known as Fatahgate,reflecting the internal squabbles in the Presidents Fatah party. The scandal rocked the conservative Palestinian society after a former intelligence official,Fahmi Shabaneh,revealed two months ago a videotape showing Husseini naked in the bedroom of a Palestinian woman apparently seeking sexual favours for career benefits. The Chief of Staff was also heard in the videotape shown on Israels Channel 10 bad-mouthing Abbas and his predecessor,Yasser Arafat. In one clip,he is seen sitting in the womans living room and saying that Abbas lacks charisma. He is also heard calling one of Abbass wealthy sons,Yasser,a crook. In another clip,Husseini denounces Arafat as one of the biggest swindlers. Shabaneh,who was in charge of the anti-corruption unit in the PAs General Intelligence Service,said the woman had complained to him that Husseini was trying to exploit her sexually. Based on the recommendations of the commission of inquiry,Abbas instructed the PA security services to destroy all material implicating Palestinians in sexual and moral offences,including videotapes and audio recordings.
