Egypt’s Freedom and Justice Party has accused senior Fatah member Mohammed Dahlan of working to “destabilise” security in the Sinai Peninsula. According to the Deputy Head of the FJP, Issam Al-Aryan, the moves are supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Speaking to London-based Al-Hayat newspaper, Mr Al-Aryan said that they are still waiting for the kidnappers of Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai to be arrested. “Dahlan is close to the UAE and since he fled from the Gaza Strip in 2007 has been organising his followers in the peninsula,” he claimed. “However, he conspired against his boss Yasser Arafat and then against Mahmoud Abbas, who trusted him. Conspiracy appears to be in his psyche, so we will wait and see if he turns against his current friends.”
Al-Aryan is convinced that Dahlan is responsible for the kidnapping of Egypt’s soldiers two weeks ago. “He has around 600 followers in Sinai and he pays for them with funds he receives from the UAE,” he insisted. “The situation in Sinai will be disastrous if it is allowed to continue this way.”