Although Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has failed to appoint a successor, despite his old age and health problems, contenders for the leadership have already begun competing, albeit far from the public eye.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Fatah leadership would never admit to such a sensitive matter, and therefore, as long as Abbas, 86, is president, the battle is waged behind closed doors.
Nevertheless, such adamant silence has recently been fractured by rumors of Abbas' poor medical condition – he is said to undergo routine health checks abroad – and potential candidates have begun warming up on the sidelines.
Marwan Barghouti is one such possible contender. A convicted terrorist, he is serving several life sentences in Israeli prison. Being in jail actually works in Barghouti's favor as it adds to his popularity among Palestinians. Top Fatah consider him a credible threat and prefer he stay in jail.
Hussein al-Sheikh, a favorite of Abbas', has recently been appointed by the president to the position of secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization. As civil affairs minister, Al-Sheikh has also enjoyed a special status due to his work with Israel-related matters. He too has served in Israeli jail, for 11 years.
Politically speaking, Al-Sheikh and Abbas have the same approach. He too prefers dialogue over armed resistance and supports coordination with Israel. He gradually gained Abbas' trust, and accompanies the leader in all meetings. He also managed to gain the favor of Israel and the US.
Mohammed Dahlan and Abbas share a deep rivalry. The former leader of Fatah in Gaza, Dahlan was ousted in 2011 and has lived in the United Arab Emirates ever since. He attempted to establish forces in refugee camps in Palestinian territories, but Abbas eliminated his project. Dahlan is considered one of the biggest critics of the PA.
Mohammad Shtayyeh is the current PA prime minister, a senior Fatah member. He was appointed to this position by Abbas, having previously served in various ministerial positions. He is an expert in economy and was hailed for his efforts during the coronavirus pandemic, although his popularity has since decreased. Shtayyeh is even considered a controversial figure due to his role in the functioning of the government and the economic situation of the PA. Heis known for his strong anti-Israel rhetoric, and is known to avoid meetings with Israeli officials.
Majid Faraj is another associate of Abbas'. He is head of the General Intelligence Service and maintains close ties with the CIA. Faraj is considered a strong and dominant leader, although he rarely gives addresses in the media.
He spent most of his career holding security positions in the PA. He also served time in an Israeli prison. Faraj's father was killed by Israeli forces in Bethlehem during the Second Intifada. Like Al-Sheikh, he too supports the war against Hamas, and holds a more pragmatic position with regard to Israel.
Mahmoud al-Aloul is also a candidate in the succession struggle. He is Abbas' right hand and previously served as the governor of Nablus. He is popular among Palestinians, but lacks political experience. His son, Jihad, was killed during the Second Intifada.
Jibril Rajoub is secretary of the Fatah Central Committee. He has previously served 17 years in jail in Israel. He has recently called former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett "a Nazi" and compared the war in Ukraine to the death of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh.
