Was it really Dahlan's fault?
By Avi IssacharoffIt is easy for Fatah leaders to lay the blame for their failure in fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Mohammed Dahlan. In his latest job, as national security adviser to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Dahlan took responsibility for the Fatah security organizations - the forces who were defeated in the Strip. Furthermore, during the fighting, Dahlan was not in Gaza. Nearly the entire leadership of the group in the Strip, who are all considered his associates, have fled the area, fearing for their lives. Overall responsibility is therefore being laid at his feet.
Nonetheless, the latest initiative by the Fatah leadership stinks of an attempt at getting even, and does not appear to be the introspection of an organization that is trying to restore its institutions.
First, most of those currently calling for Dahlan's resignation have been on bad terms with him long before the internecine fighting in Gaza. Second, the main reason for the bitter failure of Fatah in the fighting can be found in its character - the internal divisions, the rivalries and vendettas. Fatah failed to unite its ranks in the war against Hamas, not because of Dahlan, but because of the nature of the Palestinian security groupings, which Yasser Arafat put in place as early as 1994.
It was Arafat the created the entangled system of parallel security organizations that competed with each other for authority and power, in order to guarantee that none would challenge his power. Not only have these organizations fought each other, but their commanders were all too pleased to watch their rivals in Fatah lose battles against Hamas. Dahlan, who assumed his post two months ago, could not alter the culture of the organization.
But Dahlan, similar to the former chief of staff Dan Halutz, is paying not only for his military failure, but also for what he symbolized: arrogance and excessive self confidence, being aggressive, and making too many enemies.
When Marwan Barghouti called on Fatah to find a new leadership in Gaza, from those still in the area, it was clear who he was criticizing. Dahlan's supporters opted to argue that the criticism was directed at ranks under their boss. But Dahlan missed a golden opportunity to score points with the Palestinian public: he could have resigned, taken responsibility and insisted that he is not the only problem in Fatah.
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Avi, please, did you received any money for this article, you need some gaza understanding.. you know ho was behind the kidnappings in gaza??, behind the boycott some weeks of the elections??, who has provoking the unrest in the strip..?? maybe you think was Hamas...
Akiva said "just because there are elections doesn`t mean there isn`t a monster on the ballot!". So true -- witness George W. Bush!
Dahlan is a thug and traitor to his people. His primary objective is get rich and assume the power role that was once held by Arafat. He broke the ties of kinship for material gain. What folly!
A couple of days ago I posted that a government that is democratically elected is not necessarily a democratic government. And, of course, a dolt by the name of ron told me that was drivel! Iran has elections; no democracy, but a theocracy. Argentina has elections; nearly a dictatorship. Pakestan has elections; military governance. It's simple-minded people such as yourself that can't grasp the fact that just because there are elections doesn't mean there isn't a monster on the ballot!
you know the quality of This kind of dealers by finding who is commending his acts of betryal.
Avi may be right about the reasons of Fateh failure in Gazza, Dahlan is not the only reaseon, but that doesn't excuse m for being responsible.
Honestly, I can't speak to the specifics of the Palestinian situation. But if Mr. Issacharoff wants to lable the current move against Dahlan as antithetical to a genuine attempt to reform the institutions of the PA under Fatah, then what must we conclude from Israel's hounding for Haltuz' resignation following the botched war in Lebanon last summer? Sometimes a purging of failed leadership is necessary. Perhaps it is an easy or superficial fix in some cases. But why must it be so in the Palestinian case, when we considered Halutz and Peretz' exit a blessing?
I want to be brief. Israel and USA must deal with people and not with small clans and groups who look for money. I am saying that out of my love to the USA and to Jewish people as humans. Try the other way which is helping the peolpe and listening to its voice. Dealing with traitors will make you hated and will trigger the resistance.Israel and USA, what will you be doing to somebody if you find he is collaborating with foreign countries against your peoples'security and independence?
Dahlan is a disaster for the Palestinian cause, but is also a disaster for Israel, at least in the medium to long term. I have heard Dahlan talking on NUMEROUS occasion, and what comes out is a stupid, short-sighted, opportunist, greedy, and coward person. All of these characteristics have been confimed by the victorious and swift seizure of Gaza by Hamas. Dahlan's "men" fled like rats in Israeli warships!
Let's be honest and frank: Israel has the upper hand in most of Arab countries. The Greater Israel is now a fact.It lies from Egypt and the Nile where Israelis own and run too many companies and lands.Mubarak is their to serve Israel backed by the naive Americans.Jordan case is well-known with the Hachemites guards of Israel since 1948.Syria represent any danger to Israel since the Assad clan on top of Syrians.Saudi Arabia and Gulf states are under total domination.The last was Irak which is now open area to Israelis who are destabilizing the situation.In Palestinian area,Israel's men,like Dahlan and the PLO, have ruined the cause and collapsed the palestinian dream. Congratualtion Israel and Goodbye America
Anything to forestall the emergence of strong Palestinian leadership. But you in fact helped it by exposing giving Hamas the opportunity to expunge your lackeys.
Dahlan was just another corrupt Fatah leader who like the rest looked after his best interest and not the interest of the people. He, like many other in Fatah should at lest resign. If the Pals want to build a civil society, all corrupt leaders should stand trial.
America has proved to be a real naive country.Its leaderships are betraying the American principles: the rule of the peolpe by the peolpe.Americaand Israel ( democratic States) opted to refuse the outcome of the palestinian elections while they urged Palestinians to organize them with the Hamas participation.What a strange democracy they are talking about? Israel is very smart and has its own agenda which is far of being in favor of America, that's why it boycotted the new palestinian government and pushed its palestinian collaborators to exercise all kind of pressures on the WINNER of the democratic show. Israel and America chose to finance( they became millionaires) and deal with marginal,hated and unpopular figures hoping that they could dominate in the region.But and but they gorget their experiences in Latin America,South-East Asia ,Iran and too many areas where America helped dictators against their peolpes contradicting the American principles that made America the idole
The way the Pals see mr Dahlan is as an Israeli spy or a person who is on the CIA payroll. He should be fired before he creates more problems in the west bank and get mr Bargoutti out of jail to give Abbas a boost.
Dahlan is guilty of many random attacks on civilians. There is an outstanding Israeli arrest warrent for an attack he organized on a school bus that left many children dead and crippled (e.g. no legs!). Israel must storm the Muqata, try him and hang him.
In a few years, Dahlan amassed hundreds of millions of dollars. He is a big thief. Dahlan received more than 50,000 rifles from the US...to ignite civil war in Palestine. His boss Elliot Abrams boasted about his friendship with Dahlan. The man is a thug...This is why Gazans didn't take to the streets to defend him and his henchmen. Hamas may not be perfect. But at least they are clean and honest.
Avi Do not you know that Araft is dead. Do not worry he will not come back again !!!!!!!!!
Avi keeps writing about Dahlan, keeps interviewing Dahlan, and seems to be in love with Dahlan. In early January, he portrayed him as Fatah's savior in Gaza; now he clears him of responsibility for pushing Fatah in the military confrontation path with Hamas. But enough said about Palestinian issues, Dahlan convinced Israel to arm his security forces of extremely lethal weapons that were not available in the Gaza Strip before. Now Hamas has tens of thousands of arms, tons of additional explosives, and some anti-aircraft weapons....all courtesy of Dahlan. Thank Dahlan for working for Israel's security.
Dahlan failed to take control over Gaza from HAMAS. He should've known that. But his ambition was bigger than his brain. Now, his lost both: Israel support and FATAH security leadership. HAMAS is hunting him down. Typical end of a traitor.