(1961- ) A Palestinian political and security figure. A longtime member of Fatah, Dahlan served on the Palestinian Legislative Council and participated in the Oslo Process and later initiatives such as the 2000 Camp David (II) Summit. Frequently in charge of Palestinian security in the Gaza Strip, he was courted by both the United States and Israel to maintain control over militant groups, particularly Hamas. While heading the Palestinian National Security Council from 2006-2007, Dahlan was a key part of escalating tensions in Gaza between Fatah and Hamas (see Palestinian Civil War). In June 2007, he led what some saw as Fatah’s attempt to maintain security and order in Gaza and what others saw as a failed overthrow of the Hamas-led government. After the subsequent Hamas takeover of Gaza, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas dissolved the National Security Council. Dahlan was elected to Fatah’s Central Committee in 2009 and then suspended from it in early 2011 pending investigation into internal coup rumors. See Berg, Raffi. “Profile: Mohammed Dahlan.” 23 April 2003. BBC. 18 July 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2068270.stm; and Rose, David. “The Gaza Bombshell.” Vanity Fair. April 2008. http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804.  http://www.justvision.org/glossary/dahlan-mohammed