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Abbas Heats Up Palestinian Politics in PLO Reshuffle Bid

(Reuters) Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ali Sawafta - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, 80, facing a mounting challenge to his stewardship, resigned last week as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, its top decision-making body, together with nine of his colleagues. Some saw the move as little more than a maneuver to bolster his own standing and weaken his opponents. Abbas' step forces the Palestinian National Council into session within 30 days to elect a new committee. That is when, his critics say, he will be re-elected committee chairman and pack it with cronies. Palestinian political analyst Hani al-Masri said Abbas was signaling he did not plan to step down any time soon. "He wants everything to be in his hands." Ghaith al-Omari, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, wrote that the resignations were "likely internal political maneuvers aimed at consolidating power."
2015-08-28 00:00:00
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