Abbas accuses Dahlan of murder
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has accused his rival Muhammad Dahlan of involvement in six murders, hinting that he might also be behind the death of Yasser Arafat. Dahlan, who lives in exile in the Gulf, denied the allegations of his arch-foe Abbas, their bitter row now playing out publicly across the Palestinian media and on social media. Once a prominent official in Fatah, Dahlan was ousted from the group in 2011 following accusations of corruption. He denied the charges and remains a powerful figure on the sidelines, forging ties with numerous Arab leaders and maintaining links with the splintered Fatah. Abbas lashed out at Dahlan, who is regularly cited as a possible future president, during a Fatah meeting earlier this week, with his comments later released to the press. Abbas said an investigation was carried out into Dahlan, for years Fatah’s strongman in the Gaza Strip, under the rule of Arafat. “It was found out that six people were killed by orders from Dahlan,” the president said. He added that Arafat had decided not to release the report. Abbas said he did not have any proof that Dahlan was involved in the 2004 death of Arafat, but he read out several statements in which his 52-year-old rival had allegedly criticized Arafat. “Who killed Yasser Arafat? This is not evidence, but indications that deserve consideration,” said Abbas. An angry Dahlan hit back on his Facebook page, saying Abbas’s speech was full of “lies... stupidity and ignorance of the Palestinian reality.” He added that he would also “unveil the lies” surrounding the death of Arafat, calling it “the most important and most dangerous issue of our modern history.” Abbas’s government earlier this month cut the salaries of nearly 100 security men still loyal to Dahlan. In recent months, Dahlan has met with Egypt’s army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al- Sisi and reached out to Hamas, who leaders have always viewed him with deep distrust. Abbas said Dahlan had known of an Israeli plan to kill Hamas chief armed commander Salah Shehada. The assassination attempt failed, Abbas said. Shehada died in an Israeli bombing and it was not clear what assassination attempt Abbas was referring to. Dahlan said there was only ever one attack on Shehada and accused Abbas of making up stories. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Abbas’s comments made clear the Palestinian leadership had conspired against his group. (Reuters)