Israel is holding secret contacts with Muhammad Dahlan for the purpose of granting him control of Gaza after a withdrawal. So reports Voice of Israel today. Almost a year ago, as well, Israeli officials met with Dahlan, but the talks were called off in the wake of yet another wave of terrorist attacks.
Dahlan is known to command a certain degree of power in Gaza, and acts independently - to some degree - of both Yasser Arafat and Hamas. In March '97, as head of the Palestinian Security Service in Gaza, he said, "We will close our ears to Israel's demands that we arrest Hamas activists and make believe we didn't hear." He is known to have been behind the murderous attacks in Kfar Darom and environs in late 2000, including the bus bombing in which two teachers were killed and three siblings lost legs.
In other Gaza news, IDF forces began leaving certain areas of Rafiach last night, although the anti-terror offensive that began last week still continues in other areas of the city. An arms-smuggling tunnel was found and blown up last night - the third since the offensive began and approximately the 12th of the year.
Dahlan is known to command a certain degree of power in Gaza, and acts independently - to some degree - of both Yasser Arafat and Hamas. In March '97, as head of the Palestinian Security Service in Gaza, he said, "We will close our ears to Israel's demands that we arrest Hamas activists and make believe we didn't hear." He is known to have been behind the murderous attacks in Kfar Darom and environs in late 2000, including the bus bombing in which two teachers were killed and three siblings lost legs.
In other Gaza news, IDF forces began leaving certain areas of Rafiach last night, although the anti-terror offensive that began last week still continues in other areas of the city. An arms-smuggling tunnel was found and blown up last night - the third since the offensive began and approximately the 12th of the year.