Mohammed Dahlan, a former Palestinian chief exiled in the United Arab Emirates, identified his rival president Mahmoud Abbas as a failed leader in an interview Wednesday ahead of the Palestinian elections.
Speaking to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya channel, the Gaza-born Dahlan did not announce his bid to replace Abbas but reaffirmed his commitment to “the rule of the Palestinian people”.
“Under Abbas’ rule, divisions grew stronger and a living situation became sad,” Dahlan told the channel in an interview conducted in Abu Dhabi, where he is a security adviser to a strongman. UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
Abbas, who took power after the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, failed to “do what he promised,” Dahlan said.
“Everyone (Abbas) cares about staying in power, harassing his opponents and silencing those with opposing views,” he said. Dahlan.
He announced the decision by Fatah, the Abbas movement that controls the Palestinian Authority, to oust Arafat Nasser al-Kidwa’s nephew, after he announced plans to challenge Abbas in the upcoming vote.
Palestinians have called legislative elections for May 22 and a primary vote on July 31, their first elections in 15 years.
Abbas and Dahlan were allies when Palestinians finally went to the polls.
Dahlan had been Fatah’s security chief in Gaza but after the coastal collapse fell to Hamas Islamists in 2007 their relationship broke down.
Condemned for corruption by a Palestinian court, Dahlan moved to the UAE a decade ago but has tried to raise the profile of Palestinian territories in recent months.
He has personally monitored the delivery of the Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine into the Gaza Strip, naming them as a gift from the UAE.
He said his goal is to respond to the Palestinian people’s desire for change.
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A lorry full of Russian-made Sputnik V doses reaches the Gaza Strip via the Rafah route with Egypt
(Photo: AFP)
“No one will stop me, even if he is an important person,” he told Al-Arabiya.
“I have no qualms about being controversial. What matters to me is the work, success and governance of the Palestinian people.”
The 85-year-old Abbas has not announced whether he plans to run again.
Fatah, which controls the West Bank, and Hamas are long-time rivals but have reached an agreement to hold elections in both Palestinian countries.