On September 14, 2017, the Arab Center Washington DC hosted a panel featuring Ambassador Jacob Walles and Yousef Munayyer to discuss "The Future of Gaza: Between Domestic and Regional Politics." Executive Director Khalil Jahshan introduced the session by highlighting the "Dahlan Plan," a proposal involving exiled Fatah official Muhammad Dahlan aimed at easing the Israeli siege and reconciling Hamas and the Palestinian Authority through Egyptian and Emirati support. Walles noted that while the plan could provide immediate humanitarian relief, such as improved electricity and the reopening of the Rafah crossing, it is complicated by historical animosity between Dahlan and Hamas. Furthermore, Walles explained that the deal is heavily influenced by regional rivalries, as the UAE and Egypt seek to diminish the influence of Qatar and Iran while potentially grooming Dahlan as a successor to Mahmoud Abbas.
Yousef Munayyer offered a more critical perspective, characterizing the various approaches to Gaza as a "siege policy mentality" that has resulted in an inhumane sociopolitical experiment. He argued that the Dahlan Plan exacerbates a long-standing crisis of legitimacy within Palestinian leadership by allowing outside powers to insert a personality who lacks domestic support. Munayyer contended that rather than resolving the divide between the West Bank and Gaza, the plan would likely cement it and further deteriorate Palestinian national institutions. Ultimately, both speakers expressed skepticism regarding long-term stability, with Munayyer noting that Israel’s policy of de-development and the lack of a clear American vision under the Trump Administration make meaningful change in Gaza unlikely in the near future.
