Egypt likely to oust Abbas in favour of his rival Mohamed Dahlan

Egyptian intelligence is likely seeking to oust the Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas in order to pave the way for his rival Mohammed Dahlan to replace him, Arab48.com reported yesterday.

In an intelligence report prepared by the Chief of the PA’s Intelligence, Majed Faraj, and raised to Abbas, Faraj warned Abbas against falling into the “trap of reconciliation” brokered by Egypt.

The report doubted the intentions of Egyptian intelligence officials, who are visiting the Gaza Strip and holding meetings with officials from Hamas and other Palestinian factions.

The report claimed that the goal of ongoing reconciliation efforts is to pave the way for the dismissed Fatah leader Mohamed Dahlan, who is supported by the UAE-Egyptian camp, to take up the PA presidency.

Read: UAE prepares Dahlan for elections

According to the report pressure is being put on Abbas to accept the terms of reconciliation otherwise he will be described in the media as the obstacle to ending division and the suffering of the Palestinians.

Saudi pressure, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is being put on Abbas to accept an American plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by creating a disconnected Palestinian state.