Former Gaza strongman Muhammad Dahlan said Sunday he won't quit politics or accept personal blame for the fall of the territory to Hamas, even though he wasn't there during the decisive battle to rally disorganized Fatah forces. In an interview at his closely guarded West Bank office, Dahlan suggested he did better than other Fatah leaders, by warning early and loudly about Hamas's takeover plot, but said he was largely ignored. Now, he said, he's at best ready to accept collective responsibility for the debacle in Gaza, which he called a major setback to Palestinian statehood aspirations.
Asked about his future in politics, Dahlan said he'll wait for the findings of the commission before deciding. He was appointed as Abbas's national security adviser three months ago and also serves as a Fatah lawmaker.