The Fatah movement, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, is preparing to face off against an old rival, Mohammed Dahlan, and a new political faction, which intends to form.

According to exclusive information obtained by Al-Khaleej Online Dahlan has finally obtained approval to form a new party to compete for the next legislative and presidential elections.

According to Al-Khaleej Online Dahlan received official approval from the United Arab Emirates to form an official political party representing him inside and outside the Palestinian territories which will compete in future elections.

Dahlan was dismissed from the highest leadership authority in the Fatah movement in 2011, after a dispute with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas also worked on segregating a number of the movement’s leaders on charges of “misdemeanor” and cut off the salaries of dozens of those who showed support to Dahlan.

OPINION: The UAE’s destructive policies… Why?

The Democratic Reform Movement, Dahlan’s putative party, appeared in the Gaza Strip in 2016, following the failure of reconciliation between Dahlan and Abbas.

Al-Khaleej Online added that the UAE confirmed its absolute support for Dahlan and promised to provide all financial, political, and logistical support in order to develop and adjust his new party, so that it will be ready to run for the elections and attract dissidents from Fatah movement who oppose President Abbas’ policy.

The sources expected that Dahlan would call his new party the Democratic Trend. Dahlan is also expected to choose three main locations from which he will announce his party’s launch and conduct its work – the UAE, Egypt, and the Gaza Strip – in which he is likely to inaugurate the party’s office within a few weeks after receiving approval from Hamas.