Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Struggle Mounts between Abbas, Dahlan | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Mahmoud Abbas (L), and Mohammed Dahlan. (Photo: AP)


Ramallah- One day after the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ousting a number of leaders from Fatah suspected of having ties with Muhammad Dahlan, the latter led a huge offense against Abbas.

Dahlan told the BBC that he will not allow Abbas to destroy Fatah. “Abbas seeks limiting Fatah during the 7th conference of the faction to fit his interests. Abbas wants a faction that is obedient to him and the options he is giving to Fatah are limited to – approving his policy – or leaving Fatah.

Dahlan stressed that he is still willing to hold a national conference in Cairo that “aims at solving the Palestinian dispute.” He defended the Arabs saying that “the Arab nation is interfering in the Palestinian case because it is part of the region and the crisis.”

On the other hand, Dahlan accused Turkey of interfering in the internal Palestinian affairs through supporting Hamas in Gaza Strip. Dahlan’s accusations coincided with the president’s three-day visit to Turkey.

On Sunday, Abbas approved ousting leaders and officials of Fatah after they held a meeting that has a foreign agenda, knowing that this is not the first time to dismiss officials who have links with Dahlan.

Some Palestinian officials expressed discontent from the fact that Egypt is sponsoring conferences and meetings called for by Dahlan. Observers, however, see that Abbas responded to that through his visit to Turkey and Qatar.

Political Analyst Moustafah Ibrahim said, “Abbas will ask Turkey and Qatar to exert pressure on Hamas to stop any agreements or deals with Dahlan in Gaza Strip. Dahlan interventions in Gaza are seen as dangerous when it comes to Fatah.”