Skip to main content

Palestinian security forces round up Dahlan supporters in West Bank

Palestinian security forces are arresting supporters of exiled Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan following Israel's normalization agreements with the UAE and Bahrain.
Palestinians hold pictures of late leader Yasser Arafat in Gaza City on November 9, 2017, during a festival to commemorate the 13th anniversary of his death. 
According to organisers, the event was called by exiled Palestinian politician Mohammed Dahlan (portrait), partly to celebrate a recently agreed reconciliation agreement between the major Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. Dahlan has been in exile in the UAE since falling out with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and expelled from his Fatah movem

The decision by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize relations with Israel has prompted an internal political realignment in the Palestinian territories, especially in the West Bank.

The two gulf countries' decision to turn away from the Arab Peace Initiative has brought Hamas and Fatah closer than ever to each other, at least for now, and has increased the chances of general Palestinian elections. At the same time, it has increased tensions within the ruling Fatah movement. Supporters of exiled Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan appears to be taking the brunt of the Fatah leadership's anger.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.