Al-Heikh becomes Vice President: Who follows Abbas as a Palestinian leader?

Al-Heikh becomes Vice President: Who follows Abbas as a Palestinian leader?

Ramallah, Palästina - The Palestinian liberation organization (PLO) has appointed a new vice president: Hussein al-Heikh, a close confidante of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Al-Heikh also takes over the deputy chair of the PLO. This was decided to reform the management structure within the autonomy management and to strengthen international trust. The Central Council of the PLO has created the deputy offices, which can be interpreted in response to the current political situation in the West Bank and the continuing difficulties in the Gaza Strip. A remarkable point is that in the event of the death of Abbas, al-Heikh can follow without a new choice, which is a direct transitional arrangement.

al-Heikh, 64 years old, is an experienced politician from Ramallah and enjoys the trust of Abbas, who will soon be 90 years old. This appointment is considered in the context of Abbas ’striving to play a central role in the reconstruction of Gaza, especially according to the latest conflicts in the region. Despite the unpopularity of Abbas in the Palestinian population, Al-Heikh is perceived as a moderate representative that is in comparison to Hamas.

background and political dynamics

The last presidential election in the Palestinian areas took place in 2005, while the last parliamentary election 2006 took place and Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip. Since then, numerous new elections have been carried out due to disputes between the Fatah, which also includes Abbas, and Hamas. This political instability has led to the creation of the vice presidential post in order to establish a clearer succession plan. The Palestinian autonomy administration currently only controls parts of the West Bank and is faced with challenges by Israeli military administration.

Hussein al-Heikh already had a prominent role in the autonomy authority. He served as Chief of the Civil Administration, was responsible for civil matters and held significant contacts with Israel. Al-Heikh comes with a political history that encompasses in Israeli prisons for eleven years, which makes its role and perception within the Palestinian community. It is perceived as a controversial figure, especially in the face of allegations that the autonomy is ineffective and corrupt. Nevertheless, it is expected that its international connections, in particular to wealthy Gulf States and Israeli leadership, will have a weighty influence on his new office.

prospects and challenges

The appointment of al-Heikh raises questions about the future leadership of Palestinian autonomy. Although it is the favorite for the presidency, the uncertainty about the successor to Abbas ’remains. Abbas has the authority to relieve al-Heikh at any time, which can further complicate the dynamics within the PLO. In addition, he faces potential rivals and other candidates for the presidency, which could question the continuity of his position of power.

These developments underline the need for reforms within the Palestinian leadership and the challenges that exist with the restoration of the political trust in a context in which the PLO is perceived as inadequate. This situation could influence both the Palestinian society and the international diplomatic arena.