On November 28, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas announced that, in the event of his incapacity (“in a situation where his position becomes vacant”), the president of the Palestinian National Council (PNC)—currently held by Rawhi Fattouh—would serve as his replacement for 90 days, during which presidential elections are to be held. If the replacement fails to hold elections within this period, their term may be extended once for a similar duration.
The decision comes amid prolonged and intense pressure on Abbas and his close Fatah leadership to implement comprehensive governmental reforms, hold elections, address extensive corruption, the declining legitimacy of the PA, and the poor functioning of its institutions. The election of Donald Trump as US president, alongside the painful memories of his previous term, during which he pushed the “Deal of the Century” that was rejected by the Palestinians, has accelerated the calls for a rehabilitative initiative.
As you may recall, the concept of rehabilitating and revitalizing the PA, as articulated by President Biden, has often been implicitly tied to the idea of Abbas stepping down. Leaders of states friendly to the PA have also echoed this sentiment, citing Abbas’s advanced age as an obstacle that needs addressing. This announcement appears to be a response to those calls.
In his statement, Abbas essentially acknowledges that his tenure as PA president is nearing its end. While he does not specify when or if he will resign, he establishes a mechanism for his succession, thereby complicating any possible external attempts to impose a leader preferred by outside parties rather than through elections accepted by the public. Despite criticism of his announcement—primarily for its alleged unconstitutionality—it provides, amid the chaotic state of Fatah, the PLO, and the broader Palestinian issue, the necessary time for potential successors to organize and prepare, potentially averting violent power struggles. The announcement also reflects the weakened state of Hamas, which currently lacks the capacity to realize its past ambitions for governance.
Rawhi Fattouh, the designated candidate, has been PNC chairman since 2022. Now aged 75, he comes from a refugee family and was born and raised in Rafah. After completing high school, he moved to Damascus where he attended university and joined Fatah. He was expelled alongside the PLO from Beirut in 1982 and returned to the region after the signing of the Oslo Accords. A member of Fatah’s old guard, Fattouh has held numerous positions within PA institutions, including minister of agriculture, speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and interim president following Yasser Arafat’s death until the 2005 elections, which brought Abbas to power.
In 2008, Fattouh was accused of attempting to smuggle approximately 3,000 cell phones from Jordan via the Allenby Bridge. He denied involvement, blamed his driver, stood trial in a Palestinian court, and was acquitted. He has also faced accusations of exploiting his VIP status for personal gain.
On November 28, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas announced that, in the event of his incapacity (“in a situation where his position becomes vacant”), the president of the Palestinian National Council (PNC)—currently held by Rawhi Fattouh—would serve as his replacement for 90 days, during which presidential elections are to be held. If the replacement fails to hold elections within this period, their term may be extended once for a similar duration.
The decision comes amid prolonged and intense pressure on Abbas and his close Fatah leadership to implement comprehensive governmental reforms, hold elections, address extensive corruption, the declining legitimacy of the PA, and the poor functioning of its institutions. The election of Donald Trump as US president, alongside the painful memories of his previous term, during which he pushed the “Deal of the Century” that was rejected by the Palestinians, has accelerated the calls for a rehabilitative initiative.
As you may recall, the concept of rehabilitating and revitalizing the PA, as articulated by President Biden, has often been implicitly tied to the idea of Abbas stepping down. Leaders of states friendly to the PA have also echoed this sentiment, citing Abbas’s advanced age as an obstacle that needs addressing. This announcement appears to be a response to those calls.
In his statement, Abbas essentially acknowledges that his tenure as PA president is nearing its end. While he does not specify when or if he will resign, he establishes a mechanism for his succession, thereby complicating any possible external attempts to impose a leader preferred by outside parties rather than through elections accepted by the public. Despite criticism of his announcement—primarily for its alleged unconstitutionality—it provides, amid the chaotic state of Fatah, the PLO, and the broader Palestinian issue, the necessary time for potential successors to organize and prepare, potentially averting violent power struggles. The announcement also reflects the weakened state of Hamas, which currently lacks the capacity to realize its past ambitions for governance.
Rawhi Fattouh, the designated candidate, has been PNC chairman since 2022. Now aged 75, he comes from a refugee family and was born and raised in Rafah. After completing high school, he moved to Damascus where he attended university and joined Fatah. He was expelled alongside the PLO from Beirut in 1982 and returned to the region after the signing of the Oslo Accords. A member of Fatah’s old guard, Fattouh has held numerous positions within PA institutions, including minister of agriculture, speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and interim president following Yasser Arafat’s death until the 2005 elections, which brought Abbas to power.
In 2008, Fattouh was accused of attempting to smuggle approximately 3,000 cell phones from Jordan via the Allenby Bridge. He denied involvement, blamed his driver, stood trial in a Palestinian court, and was acquitted. He has also faced accusations of exploiting his VIP status for personal gain.