Mohammed Dahlan facts for kids

Mohammad Yusuf Dahlan (Arabic: محمد دحلان), also known as Abu Fadi, was born on September 29, 1961. He is a Palestinian politician. He was involved in talks for the Oslo Accords. Later, he became a leader in the Fatah group in the Gaza Strip.

Dahlan led the Preventive Security Force in Gaza. His power there was so strong that the area was sometimes called "Dahlanistan." He was seen as a possible future leader by the George W. Bush administration. He was appointed by Mahmoud Abbas to lead the Palestinian National Security Council. Dahlan was also part of the Fatah–Hamas Mecca Agreement. He now lives in Abu Dhabi.

Early Life and Activism

Dahlan was born in the Khan Yunis Refugee Camp in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip. His family were refugees from Hamama, a Palestinian town. He is the youngest of six children.

Dahlan became active in politics as a teenager. In 1981, he helped start the Gaza branch of the Fatah youth movement, called Fatah Hawks. He was arrested several times by Israel for his role in this movement. While in prison, he learned to speak Hebrew very well.

Role in Oslo Peace Talks

Dahlan played a part in negotiating the Oslo Peace Agreement. After this agreement was signed, he was chosen to lead the Preventive Security Force in Gaza. He built up a large force of 20,000 men. This made him one of the most powerful Palestinian leaders. He often worked with the Central Intelligence Agency and Israeli intelligence officials. Because of his power, Gaza was sometimes called "Dahlanistan."

Seeking Reforms

In 2001, Dahlan started asking for changes in the Palestinian National Authority (PA). He felt that policies were not clear enough.

In 2002, he left his job as head of Preventive Security in Gaza. He hoped to become the Interior Minister, but this did not happen. He was offered a job as a security adviser but turned it down. In April 2003, Mahmoud Abbas appointed him as the Palestinian Minister of State for Security. This happened even though Yasser Arafat did not agree. By September, he was removed from this role.

Dahlan often tried to campaign for reforms and against corruption. He presented himself as a strong critic of Arafat. Dahlan and his supporters won many Fatah elections in Gaza.

In 2004, there was unrest in Gaza. This happened after Arafat's nephew, Moussa Arafat, was made head of Gaza police forces. Some believed this was done to weaken Dahlan's position. This led to large protests.

Political Conflicts in Gaza

On January 26, 2006, Dahlan was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council. He represented Khan Yunis in the 2006 Palestinian legislative election. Dahlan took a strong stand against Hamas. He called their election win a disaster.

On December 14, 2006, there was an attempt to harm Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. This happened as he crossed the border with Egypt. A bodyguard was killed, and five others were hurt. This led to more clashes between Hamas and Fatah supporters. Hamas accused Dahlan of planning the attack. Dahlan denied these claims.

On January 7, 2007, Dahlan held a large rally for Fatah supporters in Gaza. He spoke strongly against Hamas. Hamas then called Dahlan a "putschist." They accused him of bringing Palestinians close to a civil war.

Dahlan was a Fatah representative in talks that led to the Fatah–Hamas Mecca Agreement. This agreement was made on February 8, 2007. Both sides agreed to stop fighting and form a government of national unity. In March 2007, President Mahmoud Abbas appointed Dahlan to lead the re-established Palestinian National Security Council. This council oversees all security forces.

Battle of Gaza and Aftermath

In July 2007, Dahlan resigned as national security adviser. This was after Hamas took control of Gaza. Many in Fatah blamed Dahlan for the quick defeat of their forces in the Hamas offensive. During the fighting, Hamas took over and destroyed Dahlan's house in Gaza. He and other senior Fatah security commanders were not in Gaza during the fighting.

After his forces left Gaza, Dahlan moved to the West Bank. Tensions grew between his supporters and opponents. Some Fatah leaders criticized Dahlan's supporters.

In October 2007, the George W. Bush administration reportedly pushed Abbas to appoint Dahlan as his deputy. Some Fatah officials said that the U.S. and some European Union countries wanted Dahlan to become the next head of the PA.

In August 2009, Dahlan was elected to the Central Committee of Fatah. However, the results were debated. Some Fatah members resigned, claiming the elections were unfair.

Influence in the United Arab Emirates

After leaving Fatah in 2011, Dahlan moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). There, he worked as a security adviser. Dahlan became close with Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Crown Prince became the leader of Abu Dhabi in 2014 and President of the UAE in 2022.

Dahlan helped arrange large UAE investments in the Balkans. He also gained Serbian citizenship.

Foreign Policy magazine reported that Dahlan was important in developing the Abraham Accords. These were agreements between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain in 2020. They were helped by the U.S. In 2020, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said the U.S. saw Dahlan as a possible future replacement for Palestinian President Abbas.

Dahlan led one of the candidate lists, Al-Mustaqbal (meaning "The Future"), for the planned 2021 Palestinian general election. However, President Abbas postponed this election.

In March 2023, Dahlan said that Israel had made a two-state solution impossible. He argued that Palestinians should now work towards a one-state solution. This would mean one state for two peoples with equal rights. He said that the two-state solution "has completely ended."

Three weeks into the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, he gave an interview to Economist magazine. He suggested that after the war, a two-year temporary government should be created for Gaza and the West Bank. After that, elections should be held for a parliamentary system. This Palestinian state should be recognized by other countries.

Personal Life

Dahlan is married to Jaleela, who was born in Saudi Arabia in 1966. They have four children: Fadi (born 1990), Firaz (born 1992), Hadil (born 1995), and Asil (born 2003). All six gained Serbian citizenship in 2013. Dahlan also has Montenegrin citizenship since 2012. Dahlan lives in Abu Dhabi. He works closely with the ruling Al Nahyan family. He is also connected with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.