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Hussein Al-Sheikh Is Gradually Stepping into Mahmoud Abbas' Shoes

(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Yoni Ben Menachem - Senior Fatah officials report that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, 86, has slowed his activity and cut back his meetings, participating only in the important ones while leaving the others to his confidant, senior PLO official Hussein Al-Sheikh. Al-Sheikh, currently the leading candidate to succeed Abbas until elections are held, is gradually assuming Abbas' duties. Two weeks ago, Abbas authorized Al-Sheikh to assume the role of secretary-general of the PLO Executive Committee. Last week, Al-Sheikh assumed the role held by the late Saeb Erekat and met with foreign consuls and U.S. envoy Hady Amr. The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported on June 6, 2022, on sharp disagreements between senior members of the Fatah Central Committee. Most of the Fatah top brass oppose Al-Sheikh as their future leader. There is intense anger over Abbas' designation of Al-Sheikh as Executive Committee secretary-general without internal elections as required. Al-Sheikh's reputation has been hit hard in recent years by reports charging him with corruption and sexual harassment. In Gaza, all the factions oppose his becoming Abbas' successor.
2022-06-16 00:00:00
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