RAMALLAH — The de facto security chief of the Palestinian Authority
has maintained a low profile since his return from medical treatment abroad.
PA Civil Affairs Mohammad Dahlan has not resumed full duties since his
return from nearly two months of medical treatment in the Middle East and
Europe for what was said to have been a spinal injury. Dahlan, 45, has been
regarded as the unofficial security chief of the Gaza Strip and the key
adviser of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
"With Dahlan failing to impose his authority, there is nobody to run the
security services," a PA source said.
PA sources said Dahlan's failure to return to full duties has ensured
paralysis in the security forces in the Gaza Strip. They said that Abbas,
amid Dahlan's absence, has refused to issue clear instructions to security
chiefs.
On Oct. 22, Dahlan returned to the Gaza Strip, welcomed by thousands of
his supporters from the ruling Fatah movement. In a speech, he urged
Palstinian insurgents to lay down their weapons and adopt democracy.
"We are the pioneers in the Fatah movement and we should put an end to
the division," Dahlan said. "We should be united. It's time for democracy."
Since his return, Dahlan has not made any major public appearances or
statements. PA sources said Dahlan was spending most of his time at home.
In the meantime, Israel and Palestinian insurgency groups have exchanged
missile and rocket fire. On Thursday, an Israeli attack helicopter fired two
missiles that killed seven people, including a
leading Islamic Jihad operative, in the Jebalya refugee camp north of Gaza
City.
One of the casualties, Shadi Muhanna, was identified as the Jihad
commander in northern Gaza who directed missile and rocket attacks against
Israel. Muhanna's lieutenant, Mohammed Ghazeineh, was also killed.
On overnight Friday, Islamic Jihad responded with missile fire toward
Israel. Most of the Jihad missiles were said to have landed in the Gaza
Strip.
PA sources said Dahlan appeared to remain weak. During his trek that
began in August, Dahlan was treated by doctors in Amman, Cairo, Tel Aviv,
Prague and finally Belgrade for what his aides identified as prolapsed
intervertebral disc, or PID.
Dahlan's absence has sparked rumors that he was seriously ill. Earlier
this month, rumors swept the Gaza Strip that Dahlan had been poisoned by his
rivals within the ruling Fatah movement. Dahlan has been blamed for the
assassination of PA military intelligence chief Gen. Mussa Arafat in
September.
PA sources said Dahlan has been the only official with authority in the
Gaza Strip. They said Interior Minister Nasser Yusef has failed to win the
loyalty of Palestinian security forces.
In Dahlan's absence, Abbas has also refused to crack down on rising
crime in the Gaza Strip. The sources said Abbas has approved PA negotiations
with Fatah and other abductors of Western nationals. Fatah abductors have
demanded jobs and funding from the PA.
"Abu Mazen [Abbas] does not want to anger either resistance fighters or
criminal gangs," a PA source said. "He doesn't believe that security forces
would protect him against any attack by these groups."
