Yoni Ben-Menachem, an Israeli expert on Arab affairs, said Egypt is helping Mohammed Dahlan, the Palestinian Fatah leader, through a conference that is held these days in Cairo under the auspices of the Egyptian intelligence Service to support him at the expense of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, reported al-Jazeera.
Ben-Menachem said in an article on News One, an Israeli news website, that Abbas protested to the Egyptian leadership, but Cairo continues to support Dahlan, because they see that Dahlan is the person who is capable of overthrowing the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza Strip.
He explained that Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi does not seem affected by Abbas’s refusal to reconcile with his opponent, but he continues to support Dahlan’s political activities to enable him of returning to the ranks of Fatah, and become the heir (successor) of Abbas, in the light of the (good) relations between Dahlan and the Egyptian General Intelligence Service.
He pointed out that Cairo is witnessing these days a conference, participated by 130 figures from the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Lebanon who are all considered supporters of Dahlan. He added that Secretary General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit will be the guest of honor to the conference.
Ben-Menachem, also a former officer in the Israeli military intelligence (AMAN), pointed out that Sisi knows very well that Abbas lives in difficult conditions, and that stepping down or being removed from the political scene has become a matter of time no more. Dahlan also enjoys excellent relations with Sisi, who knows well his qualifications, and allowed him previously to mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia on their dispute over the Renaissance Dam.
Moreove, Dahlan has good relations with the Israeli defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman.
However, the Egyptian interest with Dahlan remains focused on the Gaza Strip, which has common borders with Egypt.
Ben-Menachem concluded his article, saying that Sisi wants the next Palestinian president to help him in directing a strike against Hamas, as he believes that Hamas threatens Egypt’s national security, and cooperates with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt against him.
