Abbas rival Dahlan says president failed Palestinians Speaking to Al-Arabiya, the exiled former Abbas ally, Gaza strongman accuses Fatah of silencing opponents, citing expulsion of Arafat's nephew; did not announce his candidacy for upcoming elections AFP | Published: 03.17.21 , 20:46 Mohammed Dahlan, a former top Palestinian official exiled in the United Arab Emirates, branded his rival president Mahmoud Abbas a failed leader in an interview Wednesday ahead of Palestinian elections. Speaking to Saudi Arabia's Al-Arabiya channel, the Gaza-born Dahlan did not announce his candidacy to replace Abbas but voiced his commitment towards the "governing of the Palestinian people". 4 צפייה בגלריה (Photo: Reuters) "Under Abbas's reign, divisions grew stronger and living conditions became deplorable," Dahlan told the channel in an interview conducted in Abu Dhabi, where he is a security adviser to UAE strongman Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.