Hussein al-Sheikh Positioned as Potential Successor to Abbas \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed veteran aide Hussein al-Sheikh as PLO vice president, positioning him as a likely successor. The move aims to stabilize Palestinian leadership amid the Gaza crisis. However, critics say it reinforces Fatah’s image as outdated and disconnected.
Quick Looks
- Mahmoud Abbas appoints Hussein al-Sheikh as new PLO vice president.
- Al-Sheikh becomes frontrunner to succeed 89-year-old Abbas.
- Move aims to prepare for postwar Gaza leadership role.
- Al-Sheikh has decades of political and security experience.
- He maintains key relations with Israel and Arab allies.
- Public polls show deep unpopularity among Palestinians.
- PLO leadership’s closed-door decision draws criticism.
- Palestinian Authority would face separate succession path.
- Marwan Barghouti remains jailed, limiting alternative options.
Deep Look
In a significant move with major implications for Palestinian leadership, President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday named longtime aide and confidant Hussein al-Sheikh as vice president of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). At 89 years old, Abbas is widely seen as preparing for succession, and this appointment marks a critical step toward shaping the post-Abbas era.
While the promotion of al-Sheikh does not guarantee he will ultimately lead the Palestinian Authority or the broader Palestinian movement, it clearly establishes him as the front-runner among Fatah’s senior politicians. As the dominant force within the PLO, Fatah’s internal maneuvering carries considerable weight for future leadership decisions.
A Front-Runner Amid Deep Public Discontent
Despite his strong positioning within the leadership structure, Hussein al-Sheikh faces significant hurdles with the Palestinian public. Surveys consistently show deep dissatisfaction with the current Fatah leadership, often described as stagnant, corrupt, and detached from the realities facing ordinary Palestinians. Al-Sheikh, like many of his peers, struggles with an image problem that may hinder his ability to unify Palestinians at a critical moment.
The closed-door appointment process only reinforces the perception of a leadership circle that is increasingly out of touch, making it unlikely that al-Sheikh’s new role will inspire widespread support without substantial reforms and public engagement.
Abbas Eyes Role in Postwar Gaza
Abbas’ decision comes at a pivotal time as the Palestinian Authority (PA) seeks relevance in discussions about Gaza’s future following Israel’s war against Hamas. Under pressure from the United States and Arab nations, Abbas has promised reforms aimed at revitalizing the PA’s credibility, although results remain limited.
By formalizing the role of a PLO vice president, Abbas ensures that in the event of his death or incapacity, a caretaker successor would immediately step in — likely al-Sheikh. While the PLO executive committee would need to approve a permanent successor, this interim authority gives al-Sheikh a crucial advantage.
The PA, a separate but related entity to the PLO, would undergo a different succession process. Under Palestinian law, Rawhi Fattouh, the speaker of the long-defunct Palestinian parliament, would temporarily lead the PA, but elections would be required within 90 days — a prospect considered unlikely in the current fractured environment.
Who Is Hussein al-Sheikh?
At 64, Hussein al-Sheikh brings decades of political experience. He served 11 years in Israeli prisons during his youth and later held key roles in Palestinian security forces, credentials that bolster his standing among the security establishment.
In recent years, al-Sheikh has been Abbas’ point man for coordination with Israel, particularly overseeing the critical system of travel permits that govern the movement of Palestinian leaders and citizens. His connections with Israeli officials and Arab states, including wealthy Gulf nations, enhance his influence inside Palestinian politics.
Yet these ties are a double-edged sword. Al-Sheikh’s close cooperation with Israel is viewed with deep suspicion by many Palestinians, who see it as a betrayal rather than pragmatism. In a 2022 interview with the Associated Press, al-Sheikh defended his coordination with Israel as a necessary evil in the pursuit of an eventual political solution, emphasizing, “We undertake the coordination because this is the prelude to a political solution for ending the occupation.”
Obstacles Ahead
Al-Sheikh’s biggest obstacle is winning the support of an increasingly disillusioned Palestinian public. His unpopularity mirrors broader dissatisfaction with the aging leadership that has presided over the Palestinian Authority since the peace process stalled in 2009.
Meanwhile, the most popular Palestinian leader, Marwan Barghouti, remains imprisoned in Israel, serving multiple life sentences. Israel has refused to entertain Barghouti’s release, even amid ongoing negotiations involving Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
The PLO’s rivalry with Hamas also complicates succession efforts. Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007 after winning parliamentary elections, remains outside the PLO structure and rejects Abbas’ authority. With Israel’s war against Hamas ongoing and talk of forced relocations of Palestinians from Gaza, Palestinian unity is more urgent than ever — and far more difficult to achieve.
A Leadership at a Crossroads
Abbas remains the internationally recognized face of the Palestinian people and the favored partner in any future peace process. Yet his mandate expired in 2009, and critics argue that he has clung to power for far too long.
As the chain-smoking political veteran continues to hold on, the naming of Hussein al-Sheikh as vice president signals an effort to control the future — but whether the Palestinian public, the PLO’s competing factions, and the international community will accept this succession plan remains very much in question.
Al-Sheikh’s challenge will be monumental: to bridge a leadership isolated from its people, navigate the ruins of Gaza, manage fraught relations with Israel, and restore legitimacy to Palestinian institutions at one of the most perilous times in their history.
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