Ousted Fatah official Dahlan: I will run against Abbas

Former PA security commander in the Gaza Strip told members of the European Parliament in Brussels last month he intends to seek the office.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Dahlan & Mahmoud Abbas311 (photo credit: TARA TODRAS-WHITEHILL / REUTERS)
Dahlan & Mahmoud Abbas311
(photo credit: TARA TODRAS-WHITEHILL / REUTERS)
Ousted Fatah official Muhammad Dahlan has indicated his intention to run in the next Palestinian Authority presidential election.
Dahlan, a former PA security commander in the Gaza Strip, told members of the European Parliament in Brussels last month of his intention to seek the office.
He stressed the importance of holding elections in the Palestinian territories, the London- based Al-Quds al-Arabi daily reported on Tuesday.
He affirmed PA President Mahmoud Abbas’s commitment to peace. He also defended Yasser Arafat, saying he, too, was committed to the peace process with Israel.
Dahlan, according to the paper, denied charges of corruption against Arafat. Arafat never had his own bank account anywhere, he claimed.
Fatah expelled Dahlan, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, three years ago after he fell out with Abbas.
PA officials have since accused him of plotting to overthrow Abbas. PA security forces have in recent years arrested some of Dahlan’s supporters in the West Bank on charges of being part of the alleged plot.