Three Israeli media stations quoted on Thursday Israeli intelligence sources as saying that a large number of Fatah leaders, each of whom with an armed group, were preparing to fight for the succession of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Palestinians considered the reports as a “malicious attempt to ignite the succession conflict before its term.” The report was published in three Hebrew media stations at the same time, in different formats, but with one content, which indicates that one party stands behind it. All of the three stations claimed that several influential Fatah leaders began months ago to accumulate weapons and form armed forces in preparation for the battle for Abbas’ succession. They added that the preparations began with news of the Palestinian president’s illness last year and intensified as he was hospitalized months ago. Israeli media mentioned some of the names of Fatah leaders, who are members of the Central Committee, including the former head of the Preventive Security Service, Maj. Gen. Jibril Rajjoub, the head of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service Maj. Gen. Majid Faraj, the deputy head of the Fatah movement Mahmoud Al-Alloul, and the head of the Palestinian intelligence in the West Bank during the second Intifada, Tawfiq Tirawi. Asked by Asharq Al-Awsat about the recent reports, Fatah leaders refused to give official comments, describing them “traditional Israeli rumors that do not deserve comments.” “Israel is trying to distract us by minor side battles,” one said. “Israel is spreading what it wants, to help its new ally in the Gaza Strip - its accomplice - to pass the century deal, which is rejected by both Fatah Movement and the PLO.” Another official said: “It is just a malicious attempt to ignite the conflict of succession prematurely.”