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Senior Fatah official criticises Egypt for ‘adoption’ of Dahlan

February 19, 2018 at 11:46 am

Fatah Commissioner of National Affairs and Fatah Central Committee member Azzam Al-Ahmad (2nd R) and Hamas Political Bureau member Saleh Aruri (2nd L) sign an agreement on building a consensus in Cairo, Egypt on 12 October, 2017 [Ahmed Gamil/Anadolu Agency]

A senior member of Fatah’s Executive Committee, Jibreel Al-Rajoub, has criticised Egypt severely over what he called the “adoption of [Mohamed] Dahlan,” Quds Press reported on Sunday. Dahlan was a former senior official within the movement. He was dismissed over personal differences with Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas.

“Cairo’s adoption of Dahlan is not good for Egypt,” said Al-Rajoub. “Egypt was part of Fatah’s decision to sack Dahlan, who was dismissed after discussions with most of the Arab countries.” He claimed that Dahlan rallied regional leaders against Fatah and was accused of killing Palestinians.

“I do not have a problem to disappear from the political arena if my appearance reinforces the division between Fatah and Hamas,” insisted Al-Rajoub, “but I reject and will never accept being compared to Dahlan.”

Read: Cairo meeting aims to put ‘mechanisms to implement reconciliation deal’, says Hamas

When asked about the Egyptian role in the reconciliation with Hamas, the Fatah official explained that the group will never abandon the Egyptian role. “However, we expected dialogue between Egypt and Fatah because the reconciliation needs national unity based on international legitimacy.” He pointed out that any issue related to the future Palestinian state and regional stability would not be go through any party except Fatah.pal

On the issue of Jerusalem, Al-Rajoub explained that there must be no problem regarding the holy sites in Jerusalem. “Followers of all religions have the right to worship, but we do not accept any Israeli sovereignty over Palestinian lands occupied since 1967.”