Alerts

The Hamas, Abbas, Dahlan Triangle

Mahmoud Abbas remains in charge for now despite the Hamas campaign
Share this

Table of Contents

The Hamas movement has launched a slander campaign against Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas in response to Abbas’ close cooperation with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi against Hamas.  Egypt accuses Hamas of helping the Ansar Beit al-Maqdis terror group carry out a major attack on the Egyptian army in Sinai at the end of October that killed 33 Egyptian soldiers.

The slander campaign includes recent articles and commentaries in the Hamas journal Al-Risala on the following topics:

The Death of Palestinian Minister Ziad Abu Ein:

The Hamas journal quotes a PA source who claims Abbas has refrained from taking any measures against Israel in response to Ziad Abu Ein’s death because Abbas fears getting entangled in the affair and does not want to put a stop to the security cooperation with Israel.

According to the source, Abbas knows that any move against Israel at this sensitive juncture will negatively affect the vote in the United Nations Security Council on the Palestinian-Jordanian statehood proposal.

From a previous era: Mahmoud Abbas flanked by Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh (left) and Mohammed Dahlan
From a previous era: Mahmoud Abbas flanked by Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh (left) and Mohammed Dahlan

“Abbas’ Opponents Are Tightening the Noose around His Neck”:

That is the headline of an article that appeared in Al-Risala on December 11, 2014. The article describes Abbas’ many disputes with his political opponents, which among other things, involve media gossip and spin that Fatah officials have disclaimed.

  1. According to the article, Abbas ordered the dismissal of the director-general of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Ibrahim Harisha, and instructed the Palestinian security forces to prevent him from entering the building of the legislature.
  1. Abbas ordered the imprisonment of Bassam Zacharna, commissioner of the clerks’ association in Ramallah.
  1. According to a document circulated and attributed to Abbas’ office, he ordered the PA’s security mechanisms to monitor the telephone conversations of several Fatah leaders because of his fears of his associates.
  1. The tension with Hamas: Abbas is not implementing the reconciliation agreement with Hamas, has relinquished the Gaza Strip, is not allowing the national unity government to operate there, and is preventing the rehabilitation of the Strip while vilifying Hamas.
  1. The rivalry with Mohammed Dahlan: There is tension in Abbas’ relations with el-Sisi stemming from the close ties between the Egyptian president and Mohammed Dahlan, Abbas’ sworn political foe. The tension grew after Abbas rejected el-Sisi’s request to mend fences with Dahlan and appoint him as his deputy. Abbas also lost the support of the United Arab Emirates, with which Dahlan has security and economic ties.
  1. Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary of the Executive Committee of the PLO, tried to mediate between Abbas and Dahlan but he too failed.
  1. Forming an anti-Abbas alliance: The article also says that journalist Maher Shalabi from Palestinian TV reported on a secret meeting in the United Arab Emirates between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Dahlan, and Salam Fayyad, which suggests the forming of an alliance against Abbas. (Maher Shalabi claims that his words were distorted and that he presented the matter as a hypothetical question.)
  1. Political commentator Hani al-Basus  asserts that the harsh criticisms of Abbas’ performance stem from the fact that he has reached the age of 80 without having achieved the minimum required of him on behalf of the Palestinian issue. In al-Basus’s view, Abbas is no longer suitable from a regional standpoint and many figures in the PA are competing for his post, including some who are acceptable to Israel, Arab countries, and the countries of the world. Abbas’ threats to turn to the UN Security Council have angered the United States, which has become wary of him in light of the ending of the negotiations with Israel and Abbas’s refusal to make concessions.
  1. Hani al-Basus believes that 2015 will be a pivotal year in the political life of Mahmoud Abbas, and that Arab countries as well as nations outside the region will force him into elections at the beginning of 2016. Al-Basus claims that Abbas’ popularity is dwindling and that his powers will gradually be wrested from him. Al-Basus says further that Abbas is stepping up the attacks on Hamas to prevent Dahlan from courting the Egyptian leadership, and he accuses Abbas of holding secret negotiations with Israel.

To sum up, the slander campaign against Abbas reflects the great tension between Fatah and Hamas, which has reached an unprecedented level because of Operation Protective Edge, Hamas’s attempts to take over the West Bank (which were thwarted by Israel), and Hamas’ efforts to remain in power in Gaza while derailing the national unity government and foiling efforts to rehabilitate the Strip.

Even if only some of the allegations that have been published are accurate, Mahmoud Abbas is still firmly in charge of the Palestinian Authority and the Fatah movement and is coordinating his moves against Hamas with el-Sisi.

In light of Hamas’s difficult domestic situation, presumably the anti-Abbas media offensive will continue in an effort to delegitimize him among the residents of the territories.

 

Yoni Ben Menachem

Yoni Ben Menachem, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center. He served as Director General and Chief Editor of the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
Share this

Subscribe to Daily Alert

The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Related Items

Stay Informed, Always

Get the latest news, insights, and updates directly in your inbox—be the first to know!

Subscribe to Jerusalem Issue Briefs
The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Notifications

The Jerusalem Center
Canada investigating Israeli-Canadian IDF soldiers?
JCFA senior researcher, Amb. Alan Baker slams the probe as a “political PR stunt with no legal basis.” “This isn’t justice—it’s a betrayal. Canada is siding with PLO propaganda over facts.”
11:29am
The Jerusalem Center
What makes a child believe killing a #Jew is justified?

In PA textbooks, Jews are called liars and frauds; their fate: elimination. This is #indoctrination—not #education. But change is happening. On East to West, @IMPACT_SE CEO Marcus Sheff exposes how #UNRWA-funded schools are fueling extremism—and what real reform looks like.  Listen now on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2JHqh973U  Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/8OkJTGNfVUc

11:43am
The Jerusalem Center
Highlights from the @Jerusalem_Post Annual Conference in NYC:

Dr. @Dan_Diker, President of the JCFA: “October 7 wasn’t just an attack on Israel — it was a blow to the U.S. on Israeli soil. It demands moral clarity and a united front between Israel and the U.S. to defeat jihadist terror.”

2:20pm
The Jerusalem Center
@XAVIAERD says it like it is

Well, @XAVIAERD says it like it is: If you’re part of “#Queers for #Palestine,” he’ll pay for your flight to #Gaza. Go see for yourself how they treat LGBTQ+ people over there. Don’t miss this bold take on the Israel-Hamas war and the woke right.

2:32pm
The Jerusalem Center
“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.”

“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.” On Our Middle East by @JNS_org, @Dan_Diker@KhaledAbuToameh (JCFA/@GatestoneInst) break it down: If Hamas isn’t crushed, Iran wins. The jihadis—from #Gaza to your campus—get the green light. Diker: “This war is for the West.” No fluff. No filters. Just raw insight from two insiders who actually know what’s going on.  Watch: youtu.be/4Aq_zcbb4Yo

2:15pm
The Jerusalem Center
5/5 Lt. Col. Kalo on East to West with @smartinezamir:

“This operation showcases Israel’s strategic intelligence superiority both regionally and globally. It demonstrates the moral commitment to recovered soldiers and also strengthens Israel’s position with allies.” youtube.com/watch?v=nIvNNi

2:07pm
The Jerusalem Center
4/5 The operation built on intelligence gathered during the 2019 #Baumel recovery

#Mossad agents operated under cover in #Syria for years, visiting a graveyard multiple times under fire to collect remains for DNA matching. The intelligence community’s evolution combines technology, big data analysis, and human intelligence capabilities.

2:02pm
The Jerusalem Center
3/5 This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander

This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from #Hamas in #Gaza, significantly boosting national morale amid an ongoing conflict now stretching over 18 months. The dual successes demonstrate #Israel‘s unwavering commitment to bringing all soldiers home.

1:58pm
The Jerusalem Center
2/5 The operation used the power vacuum following #Assad’s fall from #Damascus

Lt. Col. Avi Kalo, former head of IDF Prisoners & Missing Persons Division, calls it “an outstanding event that brings hope and new spirit to the people of Israel.” The operation utilized the power vacuum following #Assad‘s fall from #Damascus, allowing #Israeli intelligence to deploy ground capabilities in #Syria.

1:56pm
The Jerusalem Center
1/5 Israeli forces recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi Feldman

In an unprecedented operation, Israeli forces have recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi #Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub. The complex #Mossad mission was conducted deep within #Syrian territory, 43 years after his disappearance. This follows the successful 2019 recovery of Zachary #Baumel from the same battle.

1:54pm
The Jerusalem Center
A molotov attack on a bus = a “barbecue party”?

That’s what #Palestinian kids are being taught under @UNRWA  — from grade school to graduation. This isn’t education. It’s indoctrination. Marcus Sheff of @IMPACT_SE  breaks it down with @smartinezamir

12:51pm

Close