Jump to content

Mohammed Dahlan: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Undid revision 380137401 by Mohammad dahlan (talk)
No edit summary
Tag: section blanking
Line 16: Line 16:


In 2002, he resigned his post as head of the Preventive Security in Gaza in the hope of becoming the Interior Minister; this did not occur, but he was offered a post as security adviser. He did not take this step. In April 2003, he was appointed the Palestinian Minister of State for Security by [[Abu Mazen Mahmoud Abbas]], despite the objection of Arafat.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=316409&contrassID=1 Haaretz] Arafat trying to undermine Dahlan's security powers By Arnon Regular 10 July 2003</ref> By September he had been ousted when Abbas resigned as Prime Minister, and was replaced first by [[Hakam Balawi]] (Oct 2003-Feb 2005) and then [[Nasser Youssef]] (Feb 2005-March 2006).<ref name="BBC1">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2068270.stm BBC] Profile: Mohammed Dahlan By Raffi Berg 23 April 2003</ref>
In 2002, he resigned his post as head of the Preventive Security in Gaza in the hope of becoming the Interior Minister; this did not occur, but he was offered a post as security adviser. He did not take this step. In April 2003, he was appointed the Palestinian Minister of State for Security by [[Abu Mazen Mahmoud Abbas]], despite the objection of Arafat.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=316409&contrassID=1 Haaretz] Arafat trying to undermine Dahlan's security powers By Arnon Regular 10 July 2003</ref> By September he had been ousted when Abbas resigned as Prime Minister, and was replaced first by [[Hakam Balawi]] (Oct 2003-Feb 2005) and then [[Nasser Youssef]] (Feb 2005-March 2006).<ref name="BBC1">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2068270.stm BBC] Profile: Mohammed Dahlan By Raffi Berg 23 April 2003</ref>

===Fatah in Gaza===
He repeatedly tried to campaign on a reform and anti-corruption ticket and tried to profile himself as an outspoken critic of Yasser Arafat, although many observers dispute his personal integrity. Nevertheless Dahlan and his followers in internal Fatah elections won over most of the Fatah sections in Gaza.<ref>[http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/701/re52.htm al Ahram] All for reform The call for Palestinian reform is all well and good, but how deep run the roots of corruption, asks Lamis Andoni Issue No. 701 29 July - 4 August 2004</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/aug/02/israel Guardian] Arafat 'ruining his people' says protege by Conal Urquhart in Tel Aviv 2 August 2004</ref>

In 2004, Dahlan is assumed to have been the driving force behind week-long unrests in Gaza following the appointment of Yasser Arafat's nephew [[Mousa Arafat]], widely accused of corruption, as head of Gaza police forces.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} This appointment was considered by some a deliberate step to weaken Dahlan's position before the Israeli [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan|disengagement]] from the Gaza strip and sparked massive protests.{{Fact|date=June 2007}}

On January 26, 2006, Dahlan was narrowly elected to the [[Palestinian Legislative Council]] in the [[Palestinian legislative election, 2006|Palestinian legislative election of 2006]] as a representative for [[Khan Younis]]. In January 2007, Dahlan took a tough stance against [[Hamas]].<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-dahlan21jan21,1,7982990.story?track=rss Lawmaker's tough talk rouses Fatah faithful], LA Times, 1/21/07.</ref> On January 7, 2007, Dahlan held the biggest-ever rally of Fatah supporters in the Gaza strip<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/811641.html Haaretz] Dahlan to Haaretz: We proved to Hamas that Gaza is not theirs By Avi Issacharoff, 10 January 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/hamas-softens-israel-stance-in-calls-for-palestinian-state-431624.html Independent] Hamas softens Israel stance in calls for Palestinian state By Eric Silver in Jerusalem 11 January 2007</ref>
====Mecca Agreement====
Dahlan was a Fatah representative in negotiations which resulted in the [[Hamas & Fatah Mecca Agreement]] of February 8, 2007, in which both sides agreed to stop the military clashes in Gaza and form a government of national unity. The truce was to be short lived. In March 2007, despite objections from Hamas, Dahlan was appointed by Palestinian President [[Mahmoud Abbas]] to lead the newly re-established [[Palestinian National Security Council]], which is intended to oversee all security services in the Palestinian territories.<ref> [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/839486.html Hamas slams Abbas' decision to appoint Dahlan as security chief], Haaretz, 3/19/07.</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6247547.stm BBC] Gaza chief brands Hamas murderers 10 January 2007</ref>


===Gaza infighting===
===Gaza infighting===

Revision as of 12:04, 21 August 2010

Mohammed Dahlan (محمد دحلان), (Muhammad Dahlan) also known by the kunya or nom de guerre Abu Fadi [1] [2], is a Palestinian politician, the leader of Fatah in Gaza. Dahlan was born on September 29, 1961 in Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza to a refugee family from Hamama. In 1981 he helped found the Gaza branch of the Fatah Youth Movement Shabibat Fatah.He was jailed by the Israelis 11 times between 1981 and 1986 for his involvement in the movement. During his time in prison, he learned to speak fluent Hebrew. Throughout his time out of prison, Dahlan was studying a BA in Business Administration at the Islamic University of Gaza. In 2007, Dahlan helped organize a U.S. plan to overthrow Hamas forces in Gaza, but the coup failed when Hamas carried out a counter-coup, and routed Fatah forces in Gaza instead.[3]

Political career

First Intifada and Oslo

In 1987 he was a leader of the First Intifada, but was arrested by Israel for this role. After being released he joined the Palestine Liberation Organization in Tunis, orchestrating protests in Israel, where he gained the trust of Yasser Arafat.

In 1993, he was involved in secret talks with Israel which eventually culminated in the Oslo Accords of 1993. For his role in these talks, he was given the position of security chief of the Preventive Security Service (the police force of the newly created Palestinian Authority), enjoying widespread popular support.[4] In this role, he continued to negotiate in several subsequent talks, such as the Camp David 2000 Summit and the Hamas & Fatah Mecca Agreement of 2007.

Second Intifada

Dahlan was one of PA team in 2nd camp david negotiation, in which Yasser Arafat refused any proposal other than a Palestinian satate and its capital is Jerusalem, with a just solution of Palestinian refugees question according to the UN related resolutions. He was one of the Palestinian figures who support that Arafat's satnce, and go ahead with him to the second intifada. After september 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, Dahlan was one of the Palestinian figures who assimilate the change induced, and called Palestinian factions to rethink violent tactics in the light of the deep change in US policy and its implications in the international community, added to the Israeli efforts to make use of that change to win more in the political process in the region. this call was used by his competitors in both, Hamas and Fatah Factions, to target him on the popular arena. So a variety of material can be found in palestinian and ararab sites, even those sites of non-political interest, which tries to destroy Dahlan's popularity. the results of Such cpmpaign was tested for thefirst time in 2006 2nd Palestinian Parliamental Elections, in which he has won with the highest number of votes in Khanyounis Governorate; in which Hamas a distinctive popularity.

In 2001 he upset Arafat by beginning to call for reform in the Palestinian National Authority and expressing dissatisfaction with a lack of coherent policy.[5][6]

In 2002, he resigned his post as head of the Preventive Security in Gaza in the hope of becoming the Interior Minister; this did not occur, but he was offered a post as security adviser. He did not take this step. In April 2003, he was appointed the Palestinian Minister of State for Security by Abu Mazen Mahmoud Abbas, despite the objection of Arafat.[7] By September he had been ousted when Abbas resigned as Prime Minister, and was replaced first by Hakam Balawi (Oct 2003-Feb 2005) and then Nasser Youssef (Feb 2005-March 2006).[8]

Gaza infighting

In July 2007, Dahlan resigned from his post as national security adviser.[9] The resignation was little more than a formality, since Mahmoud Abbas had issued a decree dissolving his national security council immediately after the Hamas takeover of Gaza in mid-June 2007. Dahlan has been blamed by many in Fatah for the rapid collapse of their forces in Gaza in the face of a Hamas offensive that lasted less than a week. During the fighting Dahlan's house on the coast of Gaza, which many locals had seen as a sign of corruption by Fatah, was seized by Hamas militants and subsequently demolished. He and most of the other senior security commanders of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority security forces were not in Gaza during the fighting, leading to charges that their men had been abandoned in the field.[10]

Criticism

Other Palestinians have criticized Dahlan. Jibril Rajoub, with whom he cultivated a deep and personal rivalry, claimed for example in 2003 that everybody knew Dahlan was an Israeli agent.[11][12] He has also been criticized for his good relationship with Arafat's long-time financial adviser Muhammad Rashid and Dahlan's own London-based business.[13] Dahlan has been alleged to have enriched himself through corruption.[14]

Others claim that he, for the sake of deterring political rivals and counterweighting the numerous armed militias, maintained in 2003 and 2004 a private army in the Gaza Strip which was trained and equipped by American services.[15][16]

Dahlan also was under criticism regarding his role in Gaza turmoil, to which he contributed his share, especially in exchanging hostilities with Gazan rival Ghazi Jabali. In 2003, gunmen stormed and raided the offices of the latter's General Security organization (and reportedly went so far as to dunk his head into a toilet several times);[17] they were said to be followers of Dahlan's ally Rashid Abu Shbak, head of the Preventive Security Service organization[citation needed] (Note that although Dahlan doesn't head this organization any more, he is still widely believed to have great influence on its leadership).[citation needed]

Famous Quotes

  • "Snipers or no snipers, let Hamas shoot and kill me, I want to be close to the masses!" [1]
  • "Whoever harms [Palestinian] civilians must expect similar responses."

References

  1. ^ Dahlan urges gunmen to give up arms, Associated Press, retrieved 17-May-2007.
  2. ^ Today Gaza, tomorrow Jerusalem, Stuart Reigeluth, Al-Ahram Weekly, retrieved 17-May-2007.
  3. ^ The Gaza Bombshell, by David Rose, April 2008, Vanity Fair
  4. ^ Jewish Virtual Library Mohammed Dahlan
  5. ^ European Institute for Research on Mediterranean and Euro-Arab Cooperation
  6. ^ CNN transcripts 27 May 2002
  7. ^ Haaretz Arafat trying to undermine Dahlan's security powers By Arnon Regular 10 July 2003
  8. ^ BBC Profile: Mohammed Dahlan By Raffi Berg 23 April 2003
  9. ^ Haaretz Mohammed Dahlan resigns following Fatah's Gaza defeat By Avi Issacharoff,27 July 2007
  10. ^ Defeated Fatah Leader Resigns Official Post By Isabel Kershner, July 26, 2007, New York Times
  11. ^ New York Times Once Neighbors, Now Rival Palestinian Leaders By James Bennet 29 April 2003
  12. ^ Jpost Where in the world is Fatah's strongman Dahlan? By Khaled Abu Toameh 13 June 2007
  13. ^ New York Times As Arafat Critics Close In, Deputies Vie in the Wings By John Kifner May 21, 2002
  14. ^ Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs 10 October 2005
  15. ^ Guardian 'The real obstacle to peace is not terror, but sabotage by Sharon-backed army' 20 June 2003
  16. ^ Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs Can the Palestinian Authority's Fatah Forces Retake Gaza? Obstacles and Opportunities by Dan Diker and Khaled Abu Toameh
  17. ^ http://www.ujc.org/page.aspx?id=58929

Sources

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mohammed_Dahlan&oldid=380137647"