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| Israel-Palestine |
| Dahlan denies fomenting fighting in Gaza |
| 2004-07-29 |
| Former Security Affairs Minister, Muhammad Dahlan, strongly denied on Sunday that he was the driving force behind a wave of protests in the Gaza Strip against corruption among the leadership. Different Palestinian and international analysts said that Dahlan encouraged Fateh gunmen and members of various security forces to protest against alleged corruption in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). "It's an honor I don't claim, (an accusation) leveled by the defeated," Dahlan told the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat, in response to the accusations that he was behind the unrest. "Except to the small incident in Rafah, where gunmen fought with members of the Intelligence security, the popular revolt came after ten years of repeated demands to reform the PNA. Occupation and corruption entrenches each other." Corruption is not restricted to the financial sphere, but exists in the administrative, political and moral levels as well, he added. He said the solution to the problem does not lie in firing bullets or making charges against those demanding reforms. "We must be courageous enough to admit that we made mistakes here and there," he said. Dahlan called on President Arafat to "take a pause and think about the future of the Palestinians," adding he has no problem with Arafat, but rather with the corrupt officials around him. "There is no problem between me and Abu Amar," he said, referring to Arafat by his nom de guerre. "My dispute is with "the corrupt class which wants the symbol of the Palestinian people (Arafat) to remain blockaded so they can continue to enjoy their financial privileges. They also want the occupation to continue so that they will have an excuse not to hold elections in Fateh." He also denied pressing for a senior position in the Palestinian government. "I am a man who is looking for real change according to a view and curriculum that includes firing all corrupt officials.. I dare anyone to say that I have ever demanded a position in any government or to be a member of any political delegation," he said stressing he wants to be an outsider. Dahlan scoffed at allegations that he was "Washington's man" in the Gaza Strip, saying he did not need help from anyone in his campaign against corruption. "The US has failed in everything and is not my model," he said. "I don't need the US or any other country. For me the support of Palestinian children from Rafah to Jenin is sufficient." Dahlan's remarks were the first he has made since the outbreak of the chaos in the Gaza Strip last week. |
| Posted by:Fred |