Dahlan: Palestinians have to elect new leadership

Ha'aretz ^ | April 3, 2004 | Ha'aretz Service

[E Rocc]

The Palestinians have to elect a new leadership, the former head of the Palestinian security services Mohammed Dahlan said in an interview with the Canadian Globe and Mail published Saturday. Dahlan is seen as one of the few people who could unseat Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat, the paper said.

"The Palestinian people are looking for a way out," Dahlan said in the interview this week. "They are looking for a Palestinian leadership to take them to this exit."

"Our experience together - the international community, the Palestinian Authority, Israel, the States - has really failed, finally," Dahlan said. "To be frank with ourselves, it's failed. We have to change our role. We have to change our way of thinking, of working, of implementing our commitment.

"The Israelis should do the same. Enough is enough. We have to elect a new leadership. I think the new generation will be part of the future."

Dahlan, who headed the Palestinian Preventive Security Force, the largest armed detachment in Gaza, described the current heightened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians as "a mess."

"The Palestinian leadership must share the blame for this result. It's not just the occupation. The [Israeli] occupation destroyed the Palestinian Authority...There is no central ruling authority. The visible militant groups are the ones that are in control locally," Dahlan said.

He called for "fundamental change" in Palestinian ranks, beginning with the full democratization of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority.

Dahlan told the paper that he is confident that a democratic, unified Palestinian Authority can deliver security for Israel also, because the Palestinian people are tired of the violence. "If the Palestinian leadership have decided to stop this kind of attacks they should stop, period," he said. "We can do it. Believe me, we can do it. We did it before."

Dahlan said in the interview that a reformed, liberated Gaza could serve as a model for a future Palestinian administration, and dismissed suggestions the PA is threatened by a Hamas takeover. He said the PA, with resolution and through dialogue, would have no problem reasserting its control over a liberated Gaza Strip.

"We need a basic change in the Authority and in Fatah, all through elections. Last time Fatah had elections was 15 years ago, so the cadre now does not listen to the decisions of the leadership," he said, adding that if members of the PA "are elected legally, I will commit myself to them...They should renew their legitimacy through elections."

Dahlan told the paper that he would run in the elections.

[E Rocc]

Mohammed Dahlan has credibility with the Palestinians, the Israelis, and President Bush (who was particularly impressed with him at a summit). He's probably the best hope for a real and fair deal.

-Eric

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