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4mo ago

Mahmoud Abbas Appoints Hussein al-Sheikh as PLO Vice President, Setting Succession Plan in Motion

The creation and appointment of the PLO vice presidency establishes a caretaker mechanism for leadership transition, but questions of legitimacy and reform persist.

FILE - Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, gestures during an interview with The Associate Press at his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, June 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)
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FILE - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a conference at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Feb. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
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Overview

  • Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, 89, has named Hussein al-Sheikh as the first-ever vice president of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), solidifying a clear succession framework.
  • The newly established position ensures that al-Sheikh would serve as caretaker leader of the PLO if Abbas becomes incapacitated, with elections mandated within 90 days.
  • Al-Sheikh, a veteran Fatah politician and Abbas confidant, has held key roles, including PLO Executive Committee secretary-general and chief liaison with Israel on civilian affairs.
  • International pressure from Western and Arab allies, tied to calls for Palestinian Authority reforms and post-war Gaza governance, played a significant role in spurring these changes.
  • Despite the reforms, many Palestinians view Fatah's leadership as insular and disconnected, and al-Sheikh’s unpopularity raises questions about broader public acceptance of the succession plan.