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Palestinians Criticize Abbas for Public Fatah Feud at Delicate Time Diplomatically Palestinians Criticize Abbas for Public Fatah Feud at Delicate Time Diplomatically
(6 months later)
RAMALLAH, West Bank — When Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, returned to his headquarters here late last week after a quick trip for talks in Washington, the welcome-home reception featuring waving flags, a marching band and posters with his portrait seemed like a forced attempt to boost the spirits of an embattled leader. RAMALLAH, West Bank — When Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, returned to his headquarters here late last week after a quick trip for talks in Washington, the welcome-home reception featuring waving flags, a marching band and posters with his portrait seemed like a forced attempt to boost the spirits of an embattled leader.
Supporters say Mr. Abbas is facing intense Israeli and American pressure to compromise on some core Palestinian principles and to agree to extend peace talks beyond next month. That pressure, they say, comes even as he contends with his Palestinian rivals in the militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, and deals with cracks in the Arab world’s support for the Palestinians.Supporters say Mr. Abbas is facing intense Israeli and American pressure to compromise on some core Palestinian principles and to agree to extend peace talks beyond next month. That pressure, they say, comes even as he contends with his Palestinian rivals in the militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, and deals with cracks in the Arab world’s support for the Palestinians.
But some of Mr. Abbas’s current difficulties are of his own making. Palestinians say they are baffled by Mr. Abbas’s decision to open up another front within his own Fatah movement by beginning a nasty, public campaign against a onetime ally who Mr. Abbas now sees as a rival, Muhammad Dahlan, a former Gaza strongman and Fatah security chief.But some of Mr. Abbas’s current difficulties are of his own making. Palestinians say they are baffled by Mr. Abbas’s decision to open up another front within his own Fatah movement by beginning a nasty, public campaign against a onetime ally who Mr. Abbas now sees as a rival, Muhammad Dahlan, a former Gaza strongman and Fatah security chief.
In the two weeks since Mr. Abbas’s opening salvo against Mr. Dahlan, who is living abroad, the Arabic media has been filled with unproved accusations by Mr. Abbas about the long-ago killings of prominent Palestinians, and by both men about collaboration with Israel and financial corruption. Mr. Abbas even implied that Mr. Dahlan might have had a hand in the mysterious death of Yasir Arafat, the father of the Palestinian cause, in 2004. For the most part, the two camps have not offered detailed responses to all the accusations.In the two weeks since Mr. Abbas’s opening salvo against Mr. Dahlan, who is living abroad, the Arabic media has been filled with unproved accusations by Mr. Abbas about the long-ago killings of prominent Palestinians, and by both men about collaboration with Israel and financial corruption. Mr. Abbas even implied that Mr. Dahlan might have had a hand in the mysterious death of Yasir Arafat, the father of the Palestinian cause, in 2004. For the most part, the two camps have not offered detailed responses to all the accusations.
Many Palestinians have characterized the dispute as a shameful airing of dirty laundry that shines an unflattering spotlight on the state of the Palestinian leadership at a critical period in the diplomatic battle for the Palestinians’ future.Many Palestinians have characterized the dispute as a shameful airing of dirty laundry that shines an unflattering spotlight on the state of the Palestinian leadership at a critical period in the diplomatic battle for the Palestinians’ future.
“It is ugly,” said Mahdi Abdul Hadi, the director of the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, an independent research institute in East Jerusalem. “People are saying: ‘Is this the history of Fatah? Collaborators, corruption and killers — is this us?’ ”“It is ugly,” said Mahdi Abdul Hadi, the director of the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, an independent research institute in East Jerusalem. “People are saying: ‘Is this the history of Fatah? Collaborators, corruption and killers — is this us?’ ”
Underlying the feud is the knowledge that Mr. Abbas, at almost 79, has no deputy or obvious successor. His presidential term technically ran out in early 2010, but because of the internal Palestinian schism, no new elections have been held. In any case, Mr. Abbas has repeatedly stated that he does not intend to run again.Underlying the feud is the knowledge that Mr. Abbas, at almost 79, has no deputy or obvious successor. His presidential term technically ran out in early 2010, but because of the internal Palestinian schism, no new elections have been held. In any case, Mr. Abbas has repeatedly stated that he does not intend to run again.
A committee that was appointed to nominate a deputy recently said it was incapable of doing so and did not see the need, according to Mr. Abdul Hadi, who said there was not only a crisis of leadership in Fatah, but also a crisis of vision with the peace talks apparently at an impasse.A committee that was appointed to nominate a deputy recently said it was incapable of doing so and did not see the need, according to Mr. Abdul Hadi, who said there was not only a crisis of leadership in Fatah, but also a crisis of vision with the peace talks apparently at an impasse.
Mr. Dahlan, 52, rose from humble beginnings in a Gaza refugee camp to become a powerful figure in the Palestinian Authority who earned the trust of Israel and the United States. Some saw him as a potential successor to Mr. Abbas.Mr. Dahlan, 52, rose from humble beginnings in a Gaza refugee camp to become a powerful figure in the Palestinian Authority who earned the trust of Israel and the United States. Some saw him as a potential successor to Mr. Abbas.
Mr. Dahlan initially fell out of favor when Hamas routed the Fatah forces from Gaza in 2007 after a brief factional war. Mr. Dahlan was abroad, recovering from knee surgery, at the time.Mr. Dahlan initially fell out of favor when Hamas routed the Fatah forces from Gaza in 2007 after a brief factional war. Mr. Dahlan was abroad, recovering from knee surgery, at the time.
Then in 2011, amid accusations that Mr. Dahlan was working to undermine Mr. Abbas, he was expelled from Fatah and effectively banished. He is currently based in the United Arab Emirates and is raising funds there and elsewhere to aid Gaza — and, some say, to buy back influence there.Then in 2011, amid accusations that Mr. Dahlan was working to undermine Mr. Abbas, he was expelled from Fatah and effectively banished. He is currently based in the United Arab Emirates and is raising funds there and elsewhere to aid Gaza — and, some say, to buy back influence there.
Mr. Abbas took up the fight against Mr. Dahlan at a meeting of the Revolutionary Council, Fatah’s Parliament, in Ramallah on March 10. In a speech that was later broadcast on the official Palestinian television channel, he accused Mr. Dahlan of, among other things, having ordered the murder of six well-known Palestinians. He offered no evidence, and some relatives of the victims and others named as involved parties or sources of information have since denied Mr. Abbas’s assertions in the Arabic news.Mr. Abbas took up the fight against Mr. Dahlan at a meeting of the Revolutionary Council, Fatah’s Parliament, in Ramallah on March 10. In a speech that was later broadcast on the official Palestinian television channel, he accused Mr. Dahlan of, among other things, having ordered the murder of six well-known Palestinians. He offered no evidence, and some relatives of the victims and others named as involved parties or sources of information have since denied Mr. Abbas’s assertions in the Arabic news.
Mr. Dahlan’s response came a week later in a three-hour interview on a private Egyptian channel. He described Mr. Abbas’s speech as “a farce” and “a disgrace to Abbas and the history of Fatah.” Among other things, he called Mr. Abbas’s sons “thieves” and said that everybody knew that Mr. Abbas had ridden to power on the Israeli tanks that had surrounded Mr. Arafat when he was confined to his Ramallah compound.Mr. Dahlan’s response came a week later in a three-hour interview on a private Egyptian channel. He described Mr. Abbas’s speech as “a farce” and “a disgrace to Abbas and the history of Fatah.” Among other things, he called Mr. Abbas’s sons “thieves” and said that everybody knew that Mr. Abbas had ridden to power on the Israeli tanks that had surrounded Mr. Arafat when he was confined to his Ramallah compound.
Mr. Dahlan declined a request to be interviewed for this article. A spokeswoman cited the delicate timing. Mr. Abbas’s aides have also been reticent on the subject.Mr. Dahlan declined a request to be interviewed for this article. A spokeswoman cited the delicate timing. Mr. Abbas’s aides have also been reticent on the subject.
Disputes within Fatah are nothing new. But a former Palestinian Authority official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the matter, said that this public exchange was “bad for the image of the Palestinians and for the cause.” He added that the platform granted to Mr. Dahlan by Egypt was significant, reflecting Mr. Abbas’s waning influence with Arab governments. (An Egyptian official later sent a letter to the Palestinian representative in Cairo saying the broadcast did not reflect the views of the Egyptian government or people.)Disputes within Fatah are nothing new. But a former Palestinian Authority official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the matter, said that this public exchange was “bad for the image of the Palestinians and for the cause.” He added that the platform granted to Mr. Dahlan by Egypt was significant, reflecting Mr. Abbas’s waning influence with Arab governments. (An Egyptian official later sent a letter to the Palestinian representative in Cairo saying the broadcast did not reflect the views of the Egyptian government or people.)
For the Dahlan camp, the dispute is about Mr. Abbas’s strong-arm tactics against a political opponent. Months ago, through an Arab-Israeli law firm, Mr. Dahlan filed a complaint against the Palestinian Authority leadership in the International Criminal Court, accusing it of corruption, violations of human rights and political and personal persecution, though it is unclear whether anything will come of it other than angering the Palestinian leader.For the Dahlan camp, the dispute is about Mr. Abbas’s strong-arm tactics against a political opponent. Months ago, through an Arab-Israeli law firm, Mr. Dahlan filed a complaint against the Palestinian Authority leadership in the International Criminal Court, accusing it of corruption, violations of human rights and political and personal persecution, though it is unclear whether anything will come of it other than angering the Palestinian leader.
Mr. Abbas, for his part, may also have been stung by Mr. Dahlan’s apparently successful effort to make inroads in Gaza, where he still has some supporters. In January, Hamas allowed two pro-Dahlan lawmakers from Gaza to return to their homes from the West Bank. It also allowed Feta, a nongovernmental organization run by Mr. Dahlan’s wife, Jalila, to distribute aid to Gazan families hit by a severe winter storm.Mr. Abbas, for his part, may also have been stung by Mr. Dahlan’s apparently successful effort to make inroads in Gaza, where he still has some supporters. In January, Hamas allowed two pro-Dahlan lawmakers from Gaza to return to their homes from the West Bank. It also allowed Feta, a nongovernmental organization run by Mr. Dahlan’s wife, Jalila, to distribute aid to Gazan families hit by a severe winter storm.
Alaa Yaghi, one of the lawmakers allowed back to Gaza, said donations from the United Arab Emirates, with Mr. Dahlan’s encouragement, had paid for group weddings, Ramadan meals, expenses for university students and food for the needy.Alaa Yaghi, one of the lawmakers allowed back to Gaza, said donations from the United Arab Emirates, with Mr. Dahlan’s encouragement, had paid for group weddings, Ramadan meals, expenses for university students and food for the needy.
In a telephone interview with The Associated Press from London last month, Mr. Dahlan said he was collecting money for desalination projects in Gaza. He called for new elections and an overhaul of Fatah.In a telephone interview with The Associated Press from London last month, Mr. Dahlan said he was collecting money for desalination projects in Gaza. He called for new elections and an overhaul of Fatah.
Nasser Jumaa, a Fatah legislator from Nablus in the West Bank, said the dispute affected the unity of Fatah “horizontally and vertically,” increasing fragmentation at the leadership level and among the rank and file.Nasser Jumaa, a Fatah legislator from Nablus in the West Bank, said the dispute affected the unity of Fatah “horizontally and vertically,” increasing fragmentation at the leadership level and among the rank and file.
Dimitri Diliani, a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, said in an interview that many Palestinians were asking why it had taken Mr. Abbas until 2014 to accuse Mr. Dahlan of being involved in events that took place more than a decade ago and, if there was any evidence, why no charges were filed against him in a Palestinian court.Dimitri Diliani, a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, said in an interview that many Palestinians were asking why it had taken Mr. Abbas until 2014 to accuse Mr. Dahlan of being involved in events that took place more than a decade ago and, if there was any evidence, why no charges were filed against him in a Palestinian court.
Mr. Diliani said he passed a note to Mr. Abbas at the meeting asking, “Why now?”Mr. Diliani said he passed a note to Mr. Abbas at the meeting asking, “Why now?”
“I did not get a direct answer,” Mr. Diliani said. “He said everything has its time, he is a patient person and he had to do this for the sake of national interests.” Mr. Abbas did not elaborate.“I did not get a direct answer,” Mr. Diliani said. “He said everything has its time, he is a patient person and he had to do this for the sake of national interests.” Mr. Abbas did not elaborate.