Palestinian President's Son to Seek Key Role in Fatah
Yasser Abbas, the 64-year-old son of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, is expected to run for a position on Fatah's Central Committee.
RAMALLAH: Yasser Abbas, the 64-year-old businessman and son of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, is anticipated to pursue a significant role within Fatah, his father's political party.
He aims to secure one of the 18 seats up for grabs on Fatah’s Central Committee during the party conference set to take place in Ramallah from May 14-16, marking the first such gathering in over a decade.
Abbas' potential entry into politics has sparked discussions about his father's intentions.
Some speculate that President Abbas may be strategically positioning his son to succeed him as head of Fatah, which holds sway over the Palestinian Authority.
Yasser Abbas is the CEO of tobacco and contracting companies operating in the occupied West Bank.
He has recently engaged in meetings with key stakeholders, including representatives from the Palestinian security establishment and groups advocating for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, a demographic that carries significant influence within the community.
Other candidates reportedly being considered as potential successors to President Abbas include Hussein Al-Sheikh, his long-standing associate and second-in-command at the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Marwan Barghouti, an influential figure from the intifada who has been incarcerated by Israel since 2002.
Sabri Saidam, a senior Fatah official, emphasized that party rules permit any eligible member to contest for a position on the Central Committee.
He expressed hopes for a rejuvenation in leadership and an enhancement of the movement's capabilities.
The upcoming elections within Fatah reflect broader concerns about succession planning within Palestinian politics, a subject of considerable interest given the shifting landscape of Middle Eastern affairs.