In a move that has sparked debate, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has nominated Rawhi Fattouh as his successor should he be unable to continue due to health reasons. This decision comes amid mounting criticism of Abbas’s leadership and Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in thousands of casualties.
The Palestinian Authority was created as an interim government under the Oslo Accords in 1993, aimed at providing basic services like education and security to Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in Gaza and parts of the West Bank. However, despite promises of Palestinian statehood, the PA’s role has been increasingly questioned, especially as Israel continues to expand illegal settlements and carry out military raids in the West Bank.
Abbas, who has led the PA since 2005, was elected after the death of Yasser Arafat. Despite his term officially ending in 2009, he has remained in power largely due to the internal divisions between Hamas and Fatah. Hamas, which won the 2006 election, was sidelined when the West froze funding, and fighting between the factions resulted in Fatah maintaining control over the PA in the West Bank. Abbas has avoided holding elections, fearing a potential loss to Hamas.
Rawhi Fattouh, the former speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council and current speaker of the Palestinian National Council, has now been nominated to take over should Abbas become incapacitated. Fattouh, a member of Fatah’s Central Committee, has a history of serving in temporary leadership roles and is not seen as power-hungry. If needed, he would assume the presidency for 90 days until elections can be held.
The decision to select a successor comes after pressure from the US and Gulf states, notably Saudi Arabia, which has promised financial aid to the PA contingent on Abbas’s choice of a successor. Additionally, with the PA struggling financially due to Israel withholding tax revenues, this move is seen as an attempt to maintain the authority’s stability in the face of political and economic challenges.
Although Abbas’s presidency may be challenged, his influence remains strong through his leadership of Fatah and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), which continues to shape Palestinian politics and advocate for their rights globally. Abbas has already appointed close confidants to key positions within both the PA and PLO to ensure his political legacy remains intact.
While Abbas’s health concerns have prompted the nomination of a successor, his decision reflects ongoing tensions within Palestinian politics and the external pressures that shape the future of the PA.
