In an interview with the Algerian daily Echorouk, Khadraoui did not
identify the weapons purportedly ordered by Gadhafi. Khadraoui said Dahlan
brought a ship loaded with Israeli weapons from Greece to Tripoli. The
weapons were said to have been acquired from an unidentified Israeli
supplier.
"Revolutionaries in Misrata seized a portion of those weapons,"
Khadraoui said on April 2.
This marked the first time that Israel was linked to the Libyan
rebellion, which began in February. Over the last month, Libya has been
under a naval blockade by NATO to prevent weapons from reaching Gadhafi or
the rebels.
NATO has acknowledged allowing foreign ships that transported fuel and
other non-combat equipment to arrive in Tripoli for the Gadhafi regime. In
contrast, the Libyan rebel movement has accused NATO warships of blocking
food supplies to the besieged city of Misrata.
Dahlan, long linked to weapons smuggling, has maintained ties to Israeli
officials and executives. In late 2010, Dahlan left the West Bank for Jordan
amid accusations that he was attempting to overthrow Palestinian Authority
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Dahlan has denied that he was supplying weapons to
Gadhafi.
Fatah has announced an investigation of the Libyan rebel allegations
against Dahlan. The movement's Central Committee said Dahlan's membership
had been suspended and that he was under investigation on charges of
corruption.
"The Central Committee emphasizes that it contravenes the principles of
the movement and the interests of the Palestinian people and to ensure the
hard non-interference in Arab affairs," Fatah said in a statement on April
5.
In the interview, Khadraoui accused Gadhafi, who has frequently called
for the destruction of the Jewish state, of maintaining links with Israel.
The Libyan opposition member said Dahlan served as a liasion between Israel
and the Libyan ruler.
"Col. Gadhafi pretends to be against Israel, but actually he has strong
ties with it through Dahlan," Khadraoui said.