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March 14, 2014
Daily summary - Friday, March 14, 2014
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Main News
ISRAELI AIRPLANES BOMB THE GAZA STRIP; CALM AGREEMENT REACHED WITH EGYPTIAN MEDIATION
Israeli warplanes carried out a series of bombings this morning on various targets in the Gaza Strip. According to Maan, which quoted national security sources, Israeli warplanes carried out two raids on the Abu Atiyeh site, belonging to the Nasser Salah Eddin brigades and the Saad Sayel site belonging to the Qassam brigades in Rafah. A third raid was carried out in land adjacent to the ‘ship’ location, formerly the intelligence headquarters west of Gaza City. A fourth raid hit empty land in Khan Younis in the south. Israeli planes continue to hover heavily over the Strip. An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed the raids, saying they were in response to the continued rocket firing at Israeli towns and cities. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=681440).
Islamic Jihad leader Ramadan Shallah said in an interview with Mayadeen Satellite Channel that “there was a national consensus that the resistance has every right to respond and to defend its people.”
Last night Palestinian factions fired 11 missiles into Israeli towns just hours after a ‘calm’ agreement under Egyptian sponsorship had been put into effect. Last night Israeli warplanes carried out several raids on training sites for Hamas and Jihad after Israel had announced that 60 rockets had been fired at Israel from the Strip. (Al Quds). Three people were wounded in last night’s raids.
The Aqsa Martyrs Brigades meanwhile, announced it had fired rockets at Nahal Oz with three 107 missiles. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=681446)
CAIRO DID NOT CONTACT HAMAS TO CONFIRM THE TRUCE
After Islamic Jihad leader Khaled Al Batsh announced that a truce agreement had been reached with Egyptian mediation, Hamas announced that the Egyptians had not coordinated with the movement about this agreement, saying it reached it with the Islamic Jihad alone. This was confirmed by Hamas official Ghazi Hamad to Al Mayadeen channel last night in which he said that the Egyptian did not inform them of any agreement. “The Egyptians are supposed to coordinate with Hamas,” Hamad said. Egyptian political sources in Cairo, meanwhile, said that the Egyptian national security had made several phone calls with both the Israelis and the Islamic Jihad while it did not contact Hamas. The Egyptian sources say this is the first time that Egyptian authorities purposely disregard Hamas in its capacity as mediator between the Israelis and Palestinians, saying Egypt had preferred to open the lines of communication with the Jihad. The political source justified Egypt’s failure to contact Hamas, saying there were several reasons including that Egypt was completely fed up with Hamas’ behavior and statements towards Egypt. He also mentioned Hama’s interference in internal Egyptian affairs and its support for violence in Sinai (Al Ayyam)
DURING HIS MEETING WITH THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, PRESIDENT ABBAS: WE WANT AN AGREEMENT IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY; WE STRESS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BOYCOTTING SETTLEMENTS AND THEIR PRODUCTS
President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday that the Palestinians would continue their efforts to reach a peace deal and achieve peace and stability in the region that would end the occupation that began in 1967 and establish a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The president made his statements during a joint press conference with British PM David Cameron in Bethlehem, confirming that the leadership had not received any request to extend the negotiations. He did say that if they were to receive such a request, they would have to study it and then decide. He also said that the Palestinians had never requested a framework agreement, saying this was an American proposal. “We said that when we see this agreement, then we can judge it. When we get it, we will give our opinion, but we want an agreement that is in line with international legitimacy.”
The president also clarified the leadership’s stance on the boycott. “We do not call for the boycott of Israel. We deal with it, so it does not make any sense that we would call for Israel’s boycott. However, we do boycott and call for the boycott of everything that takes place in the settlements, because settlements are illegal and its products must also be boycotted.”
He said his meeting with Cameron was to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, stressing on the importance of cooperation in a number of fields. Cameron also said he was happy to visit Palestine and meet with President Abbas in his first trip to the country as Prime Minister. He said he believed the Palestinians were ‘partners for peace’ and that achieving this peace required ‘difficult decisions.” He continued that Britain wanted to help the Palestinians build their institutions and create a strong economy, saying they had agreed to offer support to 100 Palestinian companies to invest in Area C. He said this would help agricultural activity, promote the economy and help clean out the mine fields in the West Bank to ready them for cultivation. He also said the British cultural center would reopen in East Jerusalem to help revive the city. (http://www.al-ayyam.ps/article.aspx?did=235436&date=)
ISRAELI CABINET TAKES TWO DECISIONS, ONE FOR BATTLE AND ONE FOR CALM
Hours after the ‘breaking the silence’ operation was carried out by the Islamic Jihad, Israel’s leadership was split in half. One side wanted to wage war on Gaza, led by foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman while the other side wanted to suffice with Israel’s response to the operation by shelling 29 targets, led by minister Amir Peretz. Netanyahu, meanwhile, threw the ball into the court of his generals, army commanders and security services so as to avoid any criticisms later. However, the army generals were not keen on going to war, thus opposing Lieberman. Instead they called on a limited reserve contingency from the air force, circumventing Netanyahu’s attempt to lay the responsibility on their shoulders. In the end the cabinet took two decisions at the same time that Netanyahu’s envoy was finishing up on a deal with Egypt to implement a ‘calm’ with the Jihad. The first decision was to “respond to quiet with quiet”; the second was to call up a limited number of reserves to placate the Knesset hawks. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=681431)
CONFRONTATIONS FOLLOWING ISRAELI BREAK IN INTO JOSEPH’S TOMB IN NABLUS
This morning, violent confrontations broke out between dozens of Palestinian youths and Israeli occupation forces, which broke into Joseph’s Tomb east of Nablus along with a group of settlers. According to eyewitnesses, the army beefed up its presence around the tomb and set up checkpoints to ensure the entry and exit of the settlers while confrontations were ongoing. Palestinians threw stones at the Israelis while the army fired stun grenades and teargas at the youths and at Palestinian homes. (http://safa.ps/details/news/124544.html)
PALESTINIAN REFUGEE DIES OF HUNGER IN SYRIA; RED CRESCENT WORKER KILLED
A Palestinian refugee perished yesterday as a result of the ongoing siege on Palestinian camps in Syria, namely the Yarmouk camp. The working group for Palestinians said in a statement that 54-year old Husni Ali Hussein died from dehydration resulting from malnutrition and poor health care. UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness stated that there was a ‘state of total lack of security” which means UNRWA could not provide much needed humanitarian assistance in the camp. (http://safa.ps/details/news/124546.html) Also, Red Crescent employee Diab Muhanna was killed in the Yarmouk camp yesterday after being host while leaving the Palestine Hospital. Muhanna has been part of the Red Crescent Society for over 26 years. (Al Quds)
WARNINGS OVER REPERCUSSIONS OF SETTLER TAKEOVER OF THE POST OFFICE IN JERUSALEM
Minister for Jerusalem affairs governor Adnan Husseini warned yesterday the Israeli government of continuing its settlement and expansionist aspirations in the heart of Jerusalem, after news reports said the settler group Ateret Cohanim had purchased more than 1,000 square meters in the central post office on Salah Eddin Street in East Jerusalem. The group said it would use the building as a yeshiva and a dormitory for students, adding that renovations in it would start before Passover next month. “This is not a purchase but a takeover and an occupation, which was carried out by way of a racist law that only exists in Israel, which is the absentee property law,” Husseini said, clarifying that the building had been built during the Jordanian rule over Jerusalem. He said such a move would create many problems and daily clashes in the area between Palestinians and settlers. Husseini also warned that Israel’s ‘dreams of a unified Jerusalem would never come true” in spite of its measures and settlement schemes. (http://www.qudsnet.com/news/View/268617)
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO SEND FACT-FINDING COMMISION ON PRISONERS ON MARCH 19
Deputy ambassador of Palestine to the UE Hadi Shibli said yesterday that the European parliament decided to send a fact-finding commission to look into the condition of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails between March 19 and 20, in spite of Israel’s announcement that it would not allow the delegation to visit Israeli prisons. Shibli said preparations were being made for the visit, which will include official meetings with relevant parties, meeting with human rights organizations and a visit to the Ofer detention center and with families of prisoners and freed prisoners. Six parliamentarians are scheduled to be part of the delegation. (Al Quds)
FATAH REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL: NATIONAL CONSTANTS ARE THE MINIMUM FORMULA ACCEPTABLE BY THE PALESTINIANS
Fatah’s revolutionary council confirmed yesterday that the Palestinian national constants were the minimum formula which could be accepted by the Palestinians, saying they could not be overstepped, pushed aside or compromised. In its closing statement, the council also reaffirmed its complete rejection of recognizing the Jewish state, which it said would have ‘disastrous effects on our past, present and future.” The council also called for a revival of government performance, stressing on the importance of the security services and the police in providing security and safety, fighting crime and corruption and attempts to spread security chaos. The council also commented on Hamas, saying the movement had assumed a strategy of managing the split and not reneging from the coup it carried out seven years ago or helping to achieve reconciliation. The council called for increased interest in Jerusalem and its institutions, first and foremost the Aqsa Mosque, also calling for working towards preventing the people of Jerusalem from being expelled and displaced from their homes and city. (Al Ayyam)
ISRAELI MINISTERS SKEPTICAL OVER POSSIBLITY THAT PRISONERS WOULD BE RELEASED IF NEGOTIATIONS ARE NOT EXTENDED
Israeli ministers doubted yesterday that there is a chance Palestinian prisoners could be released if the leadership rejected the extension of peace talks after the end of April .So far Israel has released 78 of the 104 pre-Oslo prisoners in three batches with the fourth group is slated for release later this month. A source close to Israeli minister of science Yacov Piri, who is a former Shin Bet head, said the minister said it would be ‘difficult for Israel to agree to such a big step, such as releasing Israeli Arabs in the fourth group. Piri said that Israel must first ensure that negotiations are ongoing before agreeing to the release. Foreign minister Lieberman also said that he sees no chance for a prisoner release if it were not first made clear that negotiations would continue until the end of the year. (Al Ayyam)
ISRAELI OCCUPATION AUTHORITIES ARREST 13 PEOPLE AND RAID SEVERAL TOWN IN THE WEST BANK
Israeli occupation forces arrested 13 people yesterday in the West Bank including occupied Jerusalem. Six boys from the Nur Shams refugee camp east of Tulkarm were arrested, all under 18 years of age. Other arrests were made in the Jenin area. In Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrested freed prisoner Medhat Issawi from Essawiyeh. Medhat is the brother of Samer Issawi. Anwar Atawneh from Beit Kahal was also arrested after his home was raided. Atawneh is the father of three children. (Al Ayyam)
THE WORKS OF MAHMOUD DARWISH PULLED FROM RIYAD INTERNATIONAL BOOKFAIR
Authorities in charge of the Riyad International Book Fair in Saudi Arabia ordered that all works of late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish be pulled. The ‘Sabaq’ website said the administration of the fair pulled all of the works of Darwish and halted their sales on the back of protests from a number of ‘muhtasibin” youths because of what they said were ‘blasphemous phrases in the works.” The “muhtasib’ group belonging to the larger ‘vice police” in Saudi Arabia. The website said a dispute arose between the muhtasib youth and an official at one of the publishing houses over the contents of Darwish’s works, with the youth saying they opposed its showcase in front of visitors. Police were forced to intervene in the squabble. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=143428)
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Headlines
*Catholic churches reject Israeli enlistment: we are Christians and Palestinians and citizens of Israel (Al Ayyam)
*Mahmoud Darwish 2014 award for creativity given to poet Al Abnoudy and artist Mussalam (Al Ayyam)
*Beit Hanoun: five people injured after rocket falls on their house (Al Ayyam)
*Cameron east breakfast in popular restaurant in Bethlehem (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Kerry: we think the Palestinians need to recognize that Israel is a Jewish state (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Egyptian foreign ministry: the Palestinian leadership must prepare for post-April 29 (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*The occupation interrogates a boy while pointing a gun at him (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Activities of second Tubas and northern Jordan Valley festival launched (Al Quds)
*Hamas government thanks Qatar for extending grant to provide gas (Al Quds)
*Arrest of individual who impersonated someone else on Facebook (Al Quds)
* “Spring shopping” campaign to be launched in Jerusalem tomorrow to support commercial activity (Al Quds)
Qurei: takeover of post office is a dangerous aggression (Al Quds)
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Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:Rafah: citizens inspect damage left by an Israeli raid on a smuggling tunnels at the Egyptian border; 2) Bethlehem: President Abbas during his meeting with British PM David Cameron
Al-Ayyam: The President shaking hands with Cameron during joint press conference; 2) Egyptian ambassador Wael Atiyyeh and Ahmad Adarbeh, receiving the awards for Al Abnoudi and Musallam, standing alongside Abed Rabbo and Hadid
Al Hayat Al Jadida:.1) Smoke rises from an apartment building struck in an Israeli raid in Rafah; 2) The President with Cameron during joint press conference; 3) Cameron with Babon eating breakfast; 4) rainwater flooding street in Hebron; 5) Musallam’s relative receiving the prize on his behalf
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More Headlines
Beit Hanoun: five people injured after homemade rocket falls on home; one dies of wounds
Five Palestinians were injured yesterday, including a woman and two children, when a homemade rocket fell on a home belonging to the Hamdein family in Beit Hanoun last night. According to hospital sources, their injuries ranged from light to moderate except for 55-year old Aysheh Hamdein who suffering very serious wounds. The two children were wounded by shrapnel. According to eyewitnesses, a rocket fired by the resistance fell mistakenly on the home, injuring the five and partially damaging the house. (Al Ayyam). Today, reports said Aysheh Hamdein succumbed to her wounds and was pronounced dead early today.(http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=681461)
Israeli police impose restrictions on worshippers entering the Aqsa Mosque
Israeli police imposed this morning restrictions on the entry of Muslim worshippers to the Aqsa Mosque to perform Friday prayers in Jerusalem’s Old City. According to the Israeli police spokesperson Luba Sumari, only men over 40 and who are Jerusalem residents would be allowed to enter the compound; no restrictions were placed on the entry of women. Sumari said the decision came after a session of senior officers who assessed the situation and predicated that ‘Arab youths may disrupt order” after prayers are over. Large Israeli forces were deployed in and around the Old City from the early morning hours. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=681464)
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Arab Press
The Palestinian cause
Al Khaleej Editorial
The Palestinian cause is one of land and people. If they go or are cancelled out in one way or the other, then there will be no Palestinian cause. It is plain and simple. Anything added to this is just a complication, a distraction using secondary issues or a way to divert attention away from what is happening. No one is more aware of this then Netanyahu. He does not say so directly but his demands confirm this.
He is calling for a recognition of the Jewish state; he is demanding that the right of return is forgotten. Both of these things undermine the land and the people. The Zionist entity comprises around 80% of Palestine and when we add the usurpation that took place in the West Bank, this percentage rises to more than 90%. The takeover of whatever is left is merely a matter of time. Recognizing the Jewish state means legitimizing the Jewish right to Palestine, as they put it and puts and nullifies the Palestinians’ rights to it at the same time.
Cancelling the right of return is really just a complementary condition to solidifying the Jewish right. this cancellation means, at least implicitly, that the Palestinians have no rights. And whatever is left of historical Palestine that is actually Palestinians is merely a ‘matter of emergency.” In some way, they could even consider these Palestinians as refugees so that the international community could find them shelter. The Zionist entity has always repeated that the Palestinians should go back to Arab countries or perhaps to some alternative entity.
This is what an existential struggle is all about. In such a conflict, there is room for the existence of only one. This is what Zionist leaders understand. Their excuses about ‘Israel’s security” are nothing more than a way to divert attention away from the real issue. The refugee return to them is not a danger from security standpoint but from an existential one. The mere existence of Palestinians is a nullification of all Zionist claims in Palestine. Likewise, bringing up security concerns should there be a Palestinian state has nothing to do with real security issue of this entity.
This security is guaranteed by the biggest power in the world and is supported by European forces with complicit interests in the continued existence of the Zionist entity. These forces have never stopped once to empower Israel’s military prowess, which is never challenged by anyone in the region, even collectively.
This simple truth is the crux of the conflict. Getting into all other secondary issues is blindsiding this fact. Negotiations within this context of this understanding are not only a waste of time but also allow the other side to continue with its plans and to continue its settlement and Judaization projects.
This simple understanding of the core of the conflict, which was rehashed by Netanyahu, is what should determine any approach to a settlement from the Palestinians and Arab countries. This imposes on all of them to redirect the compass towards the real enemy, which poses an existential threat to the entire Arab nation. (http://www.alkhaleej.ae/studiesandopinions/detailedpage/d978f776-2d7d-47d7-a002-ee732749af26)
Isn’t it time to end the split?
Al Quds Editorial
In the midst of Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip and a possible Israeli attack on Gaza, and in terms of the regional and international circumstances, which completely contradict with the current rift in Palestinian national unity, the question right now is, isn’t it time to put an end to the split between the two parts of one Palestinian homeland?
A return to national unity and putting an end to the split is far better than the stubbornness and righteousness of any given side. National unity is a higher national interests far above any personal, factional or party gains. However, it seems that the almost seven years of these gains has deepened the split to a point where both sides now find it difficult to back down from. This is especially true given that some regional Arab and non-Arab parties would rather see the status quo continue because it serves their interests, even though the Palestinian people are the ones paying the heavy price in the form of suffering, siege and a setback in their national cause.
Both sides admit, if only verbally, that the ballot box should be the judge of things and that is it the only way to end the split. However, actually reaching the ballot box seems to be a kind of mirage, even while the dangers surrounding the Strip are from more than one side. Plus, the political impasse in the negotiations process necessitates on both Hamas and Fatah to do some real “soul searching”. The split will inevitably end if a joint strategy is assumed, based on mutual denominators which have appeared in more than one understanding and agreement between the two movements over the years.
The Gaza Strip is suffering from a suffocating siege and the destruction of tunnels, which used to supply the Strip with many of its basic needs .There are clear Israeli threats to invade the Strip once again. Likewise Egypt has its own reservations about Hamas, reservations that are understandable in light of the political challenges and security considerations Egypt is facing.
And even though most of the Gazans are not politicized and do not belong to any faction, not to mention that a considerable number of them support Fatah, the weight of the siege and the closure of the Rafah crossing has burdened everyone. This therefore, necessitates that Egypt reconsider its policy of closing Rafah and decide to reopen the crossing for the people of Gaza, who have intrinsic and unbreakable ties with the Egyptians. They expect that Egypt would take into consideration their circumstances and treat them more like brothers, in line with the historical role of Egypt in supporting and defending the Palestinian cause.
In this context and others, ending the split would provide the perfect way out of the this suffocating siege under which Gaza suffers. It would also offer a kind of neutrality for the Palestinians in political conflicts, not just in Egypt, but also in other Arab regions still in the grips of these unfortunate conflicts. When the administration of the Rafah crossing is handled by a Palestinian force that belongs to a united government, our brothers in Egypt – or we hope – will open Rafah crossing to the Gazans without any reservations of sensitivities.
Once again, the question at hand is this: if the very difficult conditions which our people in Gaza and the West Bank are enduring today are not enough to push towards restoring Palestinian unity, then under what circumstances will the split end and the Palestinians finally be able to move towards achieving their national goals? (Al Quds)
ARAB AND OTHER PRESS______________________________________
Israeli Occupier-occupied paradigm must end
By: Daoud Kuttab
For 46 years the bridge connecting the West Bank with Jordan has been a source of hardships, humiliations and extremely long and unnecessary delays, not to mention cumbersome and exaggerated body and baggage searches. This nightmare has to end.
What happened on Monday morning March 10th is a symptom of the occupation versus occupied paradigm that must come to an end. A 38-year-old Jordanian father of two and a sitting judge in Amman's Court of First Instance, attempted to travel to Nablus like many Palestinians and Jordanians of Palestinian origin. His altercation with Israeli soldiers that ended with his death must be a warning flag that this injustice and humiliation cannot continue.
Anyone who crosses the King Hussein Bridge knows very well how the Israelis have for decades forged a shameful occupier-occupied relationship with the power of their guns. The Oscar-winning film Twelve Years a Slave, perfectly illustrates the way that the oppressed absorb all kinds of humiliation simply in order to survive as they wait for salvation.
Raed Zuaiter, the Jordanian judge, like any other human being, apparently walked into this mess without the added shield of years of humiliation and he couldn't accept it. For their part, the Israeli soldiers, brainwashed to suspect every passenger as a potential "terrorist", viewed the rebellion against accepting the occupier-occupied paradigm as enough proof that the rebellious person must be a terrorist. As they say, the rest is history.
The Israeli spin machine quickly went into action. The often repeated defence was that Zuaiter went for the soldier's gun. Later it was adjusted that he went for his throat, attempting to strangle him. The "terrorist" label also required some audio. So again the spin machine fabricated that the judge yelled Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbarbefore lunging for the soldier's gun (or throat), thus confirming that he was a terrorist.
Of course much of the speculation as to what happened and when could easily be put to rest if footage from the most camera-covered spot at the bridge (the first few metres into the Israeli controlled area) is made available. But alas, the camera is now said to have been inoperative that day. How convenient. But there is a tiny fact that is hard to refute. How did the bus carrying Zuaiter enter the Israeli occupied territories. A metal bar and four metal pistons make it impossible for any vehicle to enter until someone presses a remote-controlled button. The buttons are located in a windowless room with lots of cameras that show the operators who is coming, what licence plate they hold and so on.
Naturally, addressing the problem that caused the untimely death of an innocent Jordanian is currently focused on the logistics and mechanics of what happened, but there is a need to look at the context of what is happening and how to avoid the recurrence of such trigger-happy acts.
In the negotiations about the implementation of the Oslo Accords, the Palestinians insisted that even during the interim period no Israeli soldier should have any face-to-face contact with passengers. The Israelis designed a plan where they sit behind one-way mirrors and control the bridge from this vantage point. The plan, which included the presence of unarmed Palestinian police, was operational for a short time at the end of the 1990s but was scrapped when the second Intifada broke in October 2000. Since then the call to return to the pre-October status throughout the occupied territories and on the bridge has been made repeatedly but no action was taken. The roadmap included a section for the return of the Palestinian police to the bridge, but this was never implemented.
In addition to the need to keep brainwashed, heavily armed young Israeli soldiers as far away from travelling civilians as possible, there are other decisions that can help reduce the tension on the bridge. For example the crossing should be open around the clock in order to ease the long waiting period that add to the anger and frustration. Israelis say that they can't cover the cost of 24-hour staff but many Palestinians think that they don't care while others believe that this is deliberate to maintain the occupier-occupied paradigm.
The best and most effective way to reduce the tensions and tragedies such as the murder of the Jordanian judge, is to end the occupation and totally remove the unwanted Israeli occupiers from Palestinian territories. In the meantime, people of goodwill must agree that the current status quo on the King Hussein Bridge is untenable. Serious and deep changes are required in order to guarantee that what happened on March 10 to an innocent Jordanian will not take place again.(http://www.amin.org/articles.php?t=ENews&id=4396)
Abbas questions rival's role in Arafat death
Al Jazeera
Abbas made the accusations against Dahlan, who is regularly cited as a possible future president, during a meeting of the Fatah Revolutionary Council on March 10 in Ramallah, with his comments later released to media.
Abbas said an investigation was carried out into Dahlan, for years Fatah's most powerful man in the Gaza Strip, during the rule of former President Arafat. "It was found out that six people were killed by orders from Dahlan," the president said, but added that Arafat did not release the report.
Al Jazeera Investigates
Abbas, who turns 79 this month, said he did not have any proof that Dahlan was involved in the death of Arafat, but he read out several statements in which his 52-year-old rival had allegedly criticised Arafat.
Arafat died in a French military hospital in 2004 after a sudden illness, and Palestinians had long suspected Israel of poisoning him, a claim it denies.
An Al Jazeera investigation asked scientists from France, Switzerland and Russia to find out if radiation had played a role in his death after his body was exhumed last year. The scientists differed in their findings on whether the leader had been deliberately poisoned.
"Who killed Yasser Arafat? This is not evidence, but indications that deserve consideration," said Abbas.
Dahlan was removed from the group in 2011 following earlier claims that he had murdered Arafat and accusations of corruption. He denied the charges and remains a powerful figure on the sidelines, forging ties with numerous Arab leaders and maintaining links with the splintered Fatah.
Claims denied
Dahlan, who lives in exile in Dubai, hit back on his Facebook page, saying Abbas's speech was full of "lies ... stupidity and ignorance of the Palestinian reality." He added that he would also "unveil the lies" surrounding the death of Arafat, calling it "the most important and most dangerous issue of our modern history".
In an indication of growing sensitivity over Dahlan, Abbas's government earlier this month cut the salaries of nearly 100 security men still loyal to him in an apparent effort to undermine his popularity.
Arab media have reported in recent months that Dahlan has met Egypt's powerful army chief, Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and has also reached out to Hamas, the rulers of Gaza who have always viewed him with deep distrust.
Abbas said Dahlan had also known of an Israeli plot to kill Hamas chief armed commander Salah Shehada. The assassination attempt failed, Abbas said.
Shehada died in an Israeli bombing and it was not clear what assassination attempt Abbas was referring to.
Dahlan said there was only ever one attack on Shehada and accused Abbas of making up stories.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Abbas's comments made clear the Palestinian leadership had conspired against his group, which ousted Fatah from Gaza after a 2007 civil war.(http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/03/abbas-questions-rival-role-arafat-death-2014313162523278652.html)
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