The head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, who recently visited the United Arab Emirates, met with former Fatah senior figure Muhammad Dahlan.
According to a report this morning (Tuesday) by Gili Cohen on Kan News, the sensitive meeting signals the acceleration of behind-the-scenes contacts between the Israeli security establishment and moderate elements in the Arab world regarding the day's plans after the war in Gaza.
The General Security Service said in an official response: "We do not refer to the service head's schedules.".
Dahlan previously served as the head of preventive security for the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip, and is considered a bitter opponent of the terrorist organization Hamas - which expelled him and his men from the Strip in the violent coup in 2007.
After a serious conflict with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Dahlan was expelled from the ranks of the Fatah movement and went into prolonged exile in Abu Dhabi. Over the years, he became a close and highly influential advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, and from his residence he manages an extensive network of political connections.
In July 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that officials in the United States, Israel, and Arab countries had identified Dahlan as the leading and most agreed-upon candidate to take over civil and security control of the Gaza Strip the day after the collapse of Hamas rule, mainly due to his proven ability to manage armed security forces and the massive economic backing he is expected to receive from the Gulf states.
Despite repeated reports that he is the West's preferred solution, Dahlan himself is careful to maintain diplomatic ambiguity and publicly distance himself from any statement that would present him as someone who is coming to Gaza thanks to Israel's victory over Hamas.
At the same time, intelligence sources in the region estimate that his current meeting with Shin Bet chief David Zini proves that despite public statements, Dahlan remains a key player in the American-Emirati-Israeli axis.
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