Mohammad Dahlan was once seen as a front-runner to succeed Mahmoud Abbas Ramallah, Amman - Nasser al-Assaad/Norma Nematt Fatah’s Central Committee announced its decision Sunday to dismiss its leader Mohammed Dahlan and end any formal relation with him, sparking angry reactions in the movement, especially in Gaza. Dahlan described the decision  as being \"illegal and unconstitutional,\" saying \"it does not conform with the movement\'s policies.\" Furthermore, he accused President Mahmoud Abbas of \"abusing the system.”
In a vote in Ramallah, in which five members were absent and six abstained, the committee decided to “refer (Dahlan) to court with regard to criminal, financial and any other cases as stated in the Commission of Inquiry report.”  This comes after listening to the Commission of Inquiry\'s report prepared by Central Committee members. The Central Committee\'s recommendation needs to be approved by two-thirds of the Revolutionary Council to be effective.  The decision also involves continuing the investigation into other cases.  A statement will be issued later identifying the cases that will be pursued. President Abbas endorsed the Central Committee\'s decision on Sunday night.
The members who abstained from voting on the decision were Secretary of the Central Committee Abu Maher Ghoneim and its members Nasser Kudwa, Tawfiq al-Tirawi, Sakhr Bseiso, Sultan Abul-Enein and Mohamed Al-Madani.  Sources have confirmed that the Public Prosecutor in the West Bank will begin investigations with Dahlan in the coming days and will subpoena him for civilian criminal cases.
The Central Committee\'s decision against Dahlan came after discovering a message from Dahlan to Fatah’s Secretary of the Central Committee Mohamed Ghoneim (Abu Maher), related to freezing his membership at the Central Committee and the campaign against him. In the message, he explicitly accused President Mahmoud Abbas of launching a campaign to remove him, blaming Abbas for what he called \"the defeats\" that the movement has suffered in Gaza, the legislative and municipal elections, among other failures. The Fatah leader also blamed the president for the fate of the movement\'s funds and the Palestinian Investment Fund\'s money.
Dahlan, former Public Information Commissioner of the Fatah movement, sent the letter at the end of last April. In the recently published letter, he personally attacks President Mahmoud Abbas and other leaders, whom we did not mention. Dahlan blames them for the many failures that the movement has faced, in addition to administrative and financial excesses related to Fatah funds and investments.
On Saturday, Dahlan launched a campaign against President Abbas, after Abbas’ decision to close all the websites that are linked to Dahlan, such as Kofia Press, Firas Press and others. Dahlan said in a message on the websites close to him that he is facing a \"conspiracy\" launched by \"Fatah leaders\" who are close to President Abbas, accusing the president of leading this scheme. The message included many criticisms and accusations of Abbas, including that he did not submit a financial report to the organization, the Central Committee or the Revolutionary Council. The letter also questioned the fate of the income of the $300 million investment fund established by late President Yasser Arafat to secure the authority\'s future. He also wondered about Fatah funds that exceed $550 million. Dahlan concluded his message asking for an independent Commission of Inquiry, saying that he has the right to respond to those attacking and \"conspiring\" against him. The Fatah leader added that he has \"files\" condemning them and that the conflict with President Abbas became \"personal.\"
Dahlan responded to the Central Committee’s decision in a statement to Arabs Today from Amman saying that \"it is illegal, unconstitutional and inconsistent with Fatah\'s central procedures,\" describing Abu Mazen\'s behavior as being \"similar to what is called ‘abusing the system.’\" Dahlan revealed that he had not even met with investigators.  In his statement he said that President Abbas prevented the Commission of Inquiry charged with investigating the Fatah leader \"from coming to Amman to meet with me.\"
He assured Arabstoday that he will remain in Fatah, stressing that he does not need its membership for an identity card or a passport,\" and that he has sacrificed his life and been imprisoned for its sake. The Fatah leader said that despite what has happened, he considers the unity of the movement to be \"the most important and valuable thing.\" He has also told President Abbas that \"if he feels that the responsibility is too great for him, he should resign. There are many leading figures capable of carrying out this responsibility.\"
Dahlan contends that the topics he raised in his now-public letter are significant issues that need to be addressed by the president. Dahlan says that Abbas considered the letter a personal attack, and stated that “his behavior only serves his own interests, and he never tolerates any partnerships, criticism or inquiry. However, it is the right of Palestinians and Fatah members in particular to be informed with all the basic things that affect them.\"
On Monday, Fatah’s arm in the Gaza Strip called an urgent meeting with all its leaders to discuss the implications of the Central Committee\'s decision to freeze the membership of Mohammed Dahlan. The movement said in a message that:
“…the meeting will include a number of organizational elites, representing the Revolutionary Council members and the secretaries of regions as well as the central offices in various areas. A number of the Revolutionary Council members said that the situation in the Gaza Strip is no longer tolerable and that there is a widespread anger among the movement’s leaders and masses. This is not only due to Dahlan\'s attitudes, but also because the Central Committee greatly neglects and marginalizes the Gaza Strip in general.”
They also accused a number of Central Committee members of \"serving themselves and their own interests, rather than the movement\'s interests, which have become vulnerable to a new setback due to their irresponsible attitudes.\"
Abu Khatla: Central Committee ‘no longer trustworthy’
In Gaza, Fatah leader Dr. Salah Abu Khatla highly criticized Fatah’s Central Committee. In a statement, he said he considers the decision against Dahlan as a decision against the movement\'s cadres in the Strip. He questioned the timing of such decision, noting that the charges reported in the media against Dahlan were not yet proved.
In a press statement, Fatah’s Official Spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, did not mention the investigation into Dahlan.  He said that the Central Committee’s Saturday meeting discussed the peace process and its implications, in addition to the international efforts exerted by France and other countries. He also mentioned that the Committee discussed what happened during the recent meetings of the president\'s envoys with the American side in Washington. Abu Rudeina stated that the committee listened to a report on the latest developments concerning the government’s formation, and the Palestinian delegation\'s task, going next Tuesday to Cairo to negotiate about the government\'s composition.