Mohammad Dahlan, a former member of Fatah Central Committee, returned to Palestine from Jordan in the hopes of challenging his sacking from the Fatah party. Instead, his appeal has been rejected and his home has been searched and bodyguards arrested. Palestinian police removed weapons, files and computers from his house. He is now being investigated for corruption and murder charges in a case which is to be referred to the attorney-general.
This shouldn't come as a surprise as Dahlan has always been considered controversial. The man who once was the minister of state for security, has always been criticised for keeping very close relations with Israeli leaders; some even thought of him as a ‘collaborator'. He also maintained his private army, allegedly financed by the United States and Israel.
Of late, Dahlan warned that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was incapable of leading either the Palestinian National Authority or Fatah amid pressure from the US and Israel. This comes from a man who has lost all credibility because of his close relations with Israel and his huge business empire. Now is not the time to lash out at Abbas and create tensions amongst Fatah members as Palestinians prepare to take their case to the United Nations. Needless to say, Palestinians in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, will be watching this case very closely. It is hoped justice will be done and Dahlan gets the treatment he deserves.
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