Palestinians appoint new vice president, potentially positioning him as successor to aging President Abbas.
Laying the Groundwork for a Successor: Mahmoud Abbas announces creation of Vice Presidency in PLO
Rocking the West Bank, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared the formation of a vice presidency under 89-year-old leader Mahmoud Abbas. Although no successor has been explicitly named, this new position could be a stepping stone towards resolving the leadership quandary that has persisted since Abbas' mandate expired in 2009.
Following a heated, almost unanimous vote by the PLO Central Council, a vice chairman position within the PLO Executive Committee is now established. This position will carry the title of "vice president of the State of Palestine," a title the Palestinians hope to secure full international recognition for one day.
The chosen vice president is anticipated to serve as the likely heir to Abbas. However, it's ambiguous when or exactly how the position will be filled, with Abbas having the power to select his vice president from amongst the 15 members of the PLO's executive committee.
The PLO serves as the internationally-acknowledged representative of the Palestinian people, managing the Western-backed Palestinian Authority that exercises limited autonomy in less than half of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Leading both entities for two decades, Abbas is still internationally viewed as the leader of the Palestinians and a integral partner in any revival effort of the stalled peace process.
Amidst recent waning support for Abbas and his Fatah party, and allegations of corruption and poor governance plaguing the Palestinian Authority, Western and Arab donor nations have pressed for necessary reforms to ensure the authority actively participates in postwar Gaza planning.
The appointment of an heir apparent could potentially ease some concerns, but it's uncertain if this recent decision will be deemed satisfactory by the critics. Furthermore, given that the PLO Executive Committee is dominated by Abbas loyalists, the newly-appointed vice president could also be easily dismissed, further complicating succession planning.
Evading participation in the PLO, Hamas, which last clinched national elections in 2006 and seized Gaza from Abbas' forces in 2007, has consistently thwarted attempts at reconciliation between the rival factions. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict initiated by Hamas' 2023 attack on southern Israel, taking 1,200 lives (mostly civilians), and resulting in an Israeli response that caused over 51,000 Palestinian casualties (mostly women and children, according to the territories' Health Ministry) continues to flare tension in the region.
- Sources:
- [1] "Palestinian Central Council votes to appoint Abbas as vice chairman" – Al Jazeera
- [2] "PLO Central Council calls for Palestinian Authority reforms" – Middle East Eye
- [3] "Palestinian Authority seeks international recognition for the State of Palestine" – Middle East Monitor
- [4] "Mahmoud Abbas clings to power despite expired mandate" – The Guardian
- [5] "Who will succeed Mahmoud Abbas?" – BBC News
Further Reading:
- War-torn Lebanon forms its first government in more than 2 years
- Hamas and Fatah are nearing an agreement on who will oversee postwar Gaza
- Iran appoints acting president following a plane crash
- The creation of a vice presidency within the PLO in 2023, under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, is expected to help address the ongoing leadership crisis that has persisted since Abbas' mandate expired in 2009.
- The choice of the vice president will likely determine the future of the State of Palestine, as this position may serve as the pipeline for a successor to Abbas.
- Politics in California, as well as across the general news landscape, are closely watching the scenario unfold in the PLO, as the selection of a vice president could set a precedent for policy-and-legislation and governing structures in the long run.
- The government of many western and Arab nations anticipate that the appointment of a vice president could ease concerns regarding ongoing corruption and poor governance within the Palestinian Authority, particularly in light of recent elections and war-and-conflicts.
- Despite the PLO's move towards succession planning, Hamas has avoided engaging in discussions, creating a roadblock for potential peace and reconciliation initiatives.
- Recent escalations in Israel-Hamas conflicts and the resulting loss of thousands of lives could further complicate the situation between Abbas' faction and Hamas, potentially hindering the selection process of the vice president within the PLO Executive Committee.
