Muhammad Dahlan, also known as Mohammad Yusuf Dahlan, was arrested by Israel 11 times between 1981 and 1986 for his leadership in the Fatah Hawks youth movement, during which he learned Hebrew fluently. Following his release, he contributed to negotiations for the Oslo Accords and emerged as a critic of Yasser Arafat. As a key Fatah leader in Gaza, his substantial control earned the territory the nickname 'Dahlanistan.' He was regarded as a favorite of the George W. Bush administration to serve as Mahmoud Abbas's deputy and was appointed head of the Palestinian National Security Council, including as former head of Fatah's Preventive Security Force. A fierce antagonist of Hamas and U.S.-backed strongman, he participated in the 2007 Fatah-Hamas Mecca Agreement, though his power declined after Hamas's victory in the Battle of Gaza that year. He was elected to Fatah's Central Committee in 2009 amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud. Exiled to Abu Dhabi in the UAE since around 2011, Dahlan has remained influential, reportedly playing a role in facilitating the Abraham Accords and serving as a mediator between UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed and former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.