Former Fatah Central Committee member Mohammed Dahlan slammed Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Friday, saying that he is a dictator and a bully.
Voice of Israel radio presented Dahlan’s remarks which he made to a Kuwaiti-based newspaper. According to the report, Dahlan said that Abbas is “trying to establish a dictatorship in a period of post-dictatorships. Those who cannot bend the law according to their liking turn to methods of bullying.”
Dahlan made the comments in the wake of Thursday’s raid by the PA on his Ramallah home.
During the raid, armed police locked Dahlan in a room and confiscated computers, 16 weapons and 12 of his and his bodyguards’ vehicles, including two bullet-proof cars.
Dahlan was the ruling kingpin in Gaza until Hamas overthrew the Fatah faction in a terrorist militia war four years ago. He has built a personal political and financial empire that Abbas sees as threatening to his power.
Dahlan has been banned from Fatah and has even been accused by PA officials of sending Israeli arms to Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi.
A rabid hater of Israel, Dahlan has had his diplomatic privileges revoked by Israel.
He had been living in Damascus and took the chance of coming back to PA-controlled areas one week ago. He has been charged with using government coffers and with bribery and murder to boost his own personal army and fortunes. His trial began behind closed doors this week.