Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and security man Mohamed Dahlan have buried the hatchet, for the time being, reports Khaled Amayreh Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Yasser Arafat and former Security Chief Mohamed Dahlan were slated to meet in an effort to settle sharp differences over political reform and fighting corruption. Earlier this week, the two spoke briefly by telephone. According to Palestinian sources, Dahlan re-affirmed his loyalty to Arafat while the Palestinian leader voiced his confidence that Dahlan would not do anything to undermine Palestinian national unity, as well as the unity of the Fatah movement headed by Arafat. Moreover, Arafat reportedly offered Dahlan and his Gazan political ally, Samir Masharawi, two portfolios in the government of Ahmed Qurei. It is unlikely, however, that the two will accept the offer. It is widely perceived as a cynical attempt by Arafat to co-opt Dahlan and Masharawi and contain their political opposition to his autocratic style of governance. Meanwhile, it seems that Arafat has succeeded, at least for the time being, in outmanoeuvring, if not isolating, Dahlan, mainly through associating or even lumping together opposition to his authoritarianism and demands for eradicating corruption with Israeli-American efforts to destabilise the Palestinian leadership. In this context, Arafat's supporters have been holding highly visible "loyalty marches" throughout the West Bank. On Tuesday, thousands of Arafat's supporters, including contingents of unarmed Palestinian police forces, marched through the main street of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank. During the march, Arafat's portrait was held aloft and speakers lambasted Dahlan without mentioning his name, accusing him of playing into the hands of the enemies of the Palestinian people. Further, Arafat was portrayed as the leader who, through his exemplary steadfastness and stubborn endurance, has thwarted Israeli attempts to impose surrender on the Palestinian people. The latest marches and rallies in support of Arafat coincided with an evolving understanding between Israel and the PA government that would allow Palestinian police forces to operate within Palestinian population centres. This, however, will be heavily restricted as policemen are unlikely to be allowed to carry firearms, undermining their effectiveness. The PA leadership, however, hopes that this seminal step will restore a semblance of respect to the PA after years of virtual lawlessness and chaos resulting from the destruction by Israel of the PA's police and security apparatus, especially in the West Bank. Arafat has apparently won another battle against Dahlan by reconciling differences with Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei. Arafat and Qurei have reached what seems to be a harmonious modus vivendi following the recent political crisis that culminated in the resignation of Qurei a few weeks ago. Dahlan had hoped that resignation, coupled with the violent anti-corruption protests in Gaza last month, would induce a momentum that would force Arafat to give up at least some of his powers, including those pertaining to the security apparatus. However, the withdrawal by Qurei of his resignation and the speedy rapprochement with Arafat left Dahlan in the cold. Some Palestinian insiders have intimated to Al- Ahram Weekly that there is a growing conviction on the part of Arafat's critics that it is futile to confront Arafat head-on, even on such axiomatic issues as fighting corruption. The sources, who asked to remain anonymous, argued that Dahlan himself was reaching the conclusion that political reforms and Arafat were an oxymoron and that the two could not and would not co-exist at the same time. If true, it is very likely that Dahlan, from now on, will spend most of his time and energy, and use his domestic and foreign connections, not challenging Arafat but rather consolidating his position and power-base, especially in the Gaza Strip, awaiting the disappearance of Arafat -- the man who, despite his advanced age and conspicuously frail health, has managed to outmanoeuvre all political opponents.
