Fatah to probe reports Dahlan aiding Gaddafi

Dahlan describes charges as lies and fabrications and launched a scathing attack on Al-Jazeera, accusing the station of having “bad intentions.”

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Muhammed Dahlan_311 (photo credit: REUTERS/Ali Jarekji)
Muhammed Dahlan_311
(photo credit: REUTERS/Ali Jarekji)
Fatah announced on Tuesday that it has decided to launch an investigation into reports that former Palestinian security commander Muhammed Dahlan had been involved in the transfer of Israeli-supplied weapons to Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi.
The Fatah Central Committee said that such actions, if true, contradicted the principles of Fatah and the interests of the Palestinian people, who are keen not to intervene in the internal affairs of Arab countries.
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A Fatah spokesman said that the reports about Dahlan’s alleged involvement in the shipment of weapons to Libya were under examination and study.
“The committee will take measures that suit the size of these allegations,” the spokesman said, noting that the committee had suspended Dahlan’s membership over “political and organizational trespasses.”
The Fatah spokesman said that the second Palestinian whose name was mentioned in connection with the weapons shipment, Khaled Salam, had nothing to do with the faction’s policies or national positions.
The decision to launch an investigation into the allegations came following a report in an Algerian newspaper, which accused Dahlan and Salam of involvement in sending Israeli weapons to Gaddafi’s forces on board a Greek ship.
The paper quoted Libyan opposition figure Omar al- Khadrawi, who said that Gaddafi’s forces later used the weapons to shell the western city of Misrata.
The Qatari-based Al-Jazeera TV network also reported the story, which has embarrassed Fatah leaders in the West Bank.
Dahlan described the charges as lies and fabrications and launched a scathing attack on Al-Jazeera, accusing the station of having “bad intentions.”
Dahlan was suspended from Fatah recently for allegedly plotting to stage a coup against PA President Mahmoud Abbas – a charge he has also denied.