NEW YORK (JTA) — A longtime Fatah leader says the organization has never recognized Israel’s right to exist.
Mohammed Dahlan, the former Fatah security commander, made the remarks during an interview with a Palestinian Authority-controlled television station.
Dahlan was responding to a question about Fatah’s reported insistence that Hamas recognize Israel’s right to exist as a precondition for the establishment of a Palestinian "unity government," according to The Jerusalem Post.
Dahlan, who was recently tapped to serve as an adviser to Fatah’s leader, P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas, acknowledged that the PLO — an umbrella organization of Palestinian groups that has been headed by Fatah’s leader — did recognize Israel.
"We acknowledge that the PLO did recognize Israel’s right to exist, but we are not bound by it as a resistance faction," he said.
Dahlan hails from the Gaza Strip, where Fatah is in an uphill battle to wrest political control and popular support away from Hamas.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
