According to a Walla News report, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu informed PA (Palestinian Authority) Chairman Abu Mazen that a meeting in recent weeks between Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Mohammed Dahlan was not authorized by him. Dahlan is an arch rival of the PA leader.

Arab media reports cite the two met in Europe during the past weeks. It is surmised that one of the two reported meeting occurred during a recent quick visit to Paris by Lieberman.

Dahlan was a senior security official in Gaza before the successful Hamas coup in 2007 and he was a power broker during the days of Yasser Arafat YS”VZ. In recent years there has been speculation that he is an agent for the Mossad and the CIA.

Maariv reports that there was a meeting in Paris involving Lieberman, but not Dahlan. The meeting took place in the Raphael Hotel in Pairs and Mossad officials were there. Maariv concludes the meeting did involve a senior Arab or Muslim official, and all persons involved were compelled to sign a strict confidentiality agreement, and the meeting took place with the knowledge of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Dahlan, 52, lives in the Gulf in exile and is still viewed by many Fatah supporters as a future candidate to become president of Palestine.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)