Dahlan was planning West Bank coup

Palestinian media confirmed Monday evening that a wave of PA arrests against loyalists of former Fatah security strongman Muhammad Dahlan came in reaction to a coup Dahlan was planning to undertake in the West Bank.

The reports, quoting unnamed Fatah officials, cited a Fatah central committee decision to freeze Dahlan’s membership in Fatah until a special investigative committee into his actions reaches its conclusions.

Dahlan denied the reports, telling the Al Arabiya TV network “The accusation that I conspired against Abu Mazen is inconceivable.” He said the sources spreading the accusations were trying to cause an internal rift inside Fatah.