Fatah's first general congress in 20 years yesterday delayed until this evening the vote for representatives on two key decision-making bodies.

By postponing elections for a third time, Fatah revealed that it remains deeply divided between the “old guard” who have controlled the movement since its founding half a century ago and the “young guard” who seek to initiate wide-ranging reforms.

The conference, which opened in Bethlehem last Tuesday, was scheduled to last three days. The “old guard”, which packed the congress with its supporters, expected delegates to unite “for the good of the party,” one analyst said. But they refuse to accept dictation on representation on the 21-member central council and 120-member revolutionary council.

On Saturday, the congress elected Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to a five-year term as chairman of the movement. Sixty-five of the 2,335 delegates opposed the motion, passed by a show of hands. The affirmation of Mr Abbas could strengthen Fatah’s position ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections due next year. His presidential term ended last January and the opposition Hamas movement regards him as illegitimate.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zhuri said: “The re-election of [Mr Abbas] signals the continuation of Fatah’s political and organisational downfall, and of the policy of dependence on foreign powers.”

The programme adopted by Fatah was a victory for hardline elements. Before negotiations with Israel can be resumed, Fatah demands a halt to Israeli settlement activity, an end to the blockade on Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Fatah vowed to continue resisting Israel “until Jerusalem returns to the Palestinians void of settlers and settlements”. Fatah refused to renounce violence, arguing that the Palestinian people retain the “right to resistance to occupation in all its forms in line with international law”. Fatah also recommitted to the right of Palestinian refugees to return to homes lost in 1948-49 when Israel was established.

Israeli scholar Uri Davis, who joined the movement in the 1980s, is among 617 Fatah members seeking seats on the revolutionary council. He refused to serve in the Israeli army during the 1960s and published a book critical of the Zionist movement a decade later.

He is the only Israeli Jewish member of Fatah. Ninety-six candidates are standing for the central committee which Mr Abbas heads and the “old guard” intends to dominate.