Affiliates associated with current Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and former leader Mohamed Dahlan have engaged in a “media war” ahead of the upcoming elections, Al-Resaleh newspaper reported yesterday.
The paper reported that the Wafa news agency had published a piece on an alleged court ruling in Switzerland which had indicted Dahlan and a number of other defendants. This led to accusations from journalists affiliated with Dahlan that the coverage was inaccurate.
Hassan Asfour, a journalist and writer affiliated to Dahlan, published an article which read: “Without commenting on the ruling [of the Swiss court] and whether it is true of false or whether the case was won or lost, the large scandal is who stands behind the report.”
Al-Kofiyeh Press, a website affiliate to Dahlan, also severely criticised Abbas and Wafa.
“This is a new chapter of lies, hypocrisy and irony which aim to manipulate the mindset of the Palestinian people,” the website said.