Political moves by the Palestinian President's son raise questions about the future of succession in 'Fatah'

Informed sources have revealed intensive political moves by Yasser Abbas, son of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, aimed at securing a seat for him in the senior leadership bodies of the Fatah movement. This step comes at a sensitive time for the Palestinian Authority, as a succession struggle looms with the approaching date of the movement's General Conference in Ramallah.

Yasser Abbas, 64, is expected to run for membership in Fatah's Central Committee, the highest leadership body in the movement, during the conference scheduled for mid-May. This conference is the first of its kind in nearly ten years, making it a pivotal moment in shaping the power map within the Palestinian political system.

Yasser Abbas, who for many years was known as a businessman managing huge investments in the tobacco and contracting sectors, has recently begun to appear publicly in an unofficial political capacity. He has been seen on several official occasions accompanying his father, including foreign visits that included meetings with international leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Sources reported that the President's son held a series of meetings in recent weeks with leaders of the security establishment in the West Bank, as well as representatives of the Prisoner's Club and influential forces in the Palestinian street. These meetings aim to rally the necessary support before the vote of approximately 2,500 conference members to elect the new leadership.

Reports indicate that President Mahmoud Abbas, who has turned 90, has begun to assign sensitive tasks to his son, most notably entrusting him last year with overseeing the Palestinian weapons file in Lebanese camps. Although Yasser has not previously held any official position in the Authority or the movement, his escalating influence has sparked widespread speculation about his preparation to succeed his father.

In contrast, these moves have been met with muted and public criticism from within Fatah circles, where opponents believe that promoting the President's son to the scene may deepen the crisis of trust between the street and the leadership. They warn that the absence of general elections since 2006 makes any change in leadership through appointment or inheritance popularly unacceptable.

Sabri Saidam, a current member of the Central Committee, commented on these reports by indicating that the movement's internal regulations allow any member who meets the conditions to run. Saidam expressed hope that the upcoming conference would inject new blood into the leadership to confront the complex challenges facing the Palestinian cause at the current stage.

The Palestinian Authority faces accumulated crises, including declining popularity and escalating accusations of corruption, as well as a suffocating financial crisis resulting from Israel's withholding of tax revenues. In light of this reality, observers believe that Yasser Abbas's entry into politics may further complicate the scene rather than provide solutions to existing crises.

Critics believe that the Abbas family has exploited its political influence to promote its commercial interests in the West Bank, accusations that Yasser and his brother Tareq have always denied. However, the link between money and power remains a weakness exploited by opponents to question the legitimacy of any future political role for the President's sons.

Prominent names in the succession race include Hussein Al-Sheikh, Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee, and Marwan Barghouti, who is imprisoned in Israeli jails. Barghouti enjoys overwhelming popularity in opinion polls, making any attempt to impose an alternative a daunting task for the presidential institution in Ramallah.

Political analyst Reham Odeh indicated that Yasser Abbas's success in reaching the Central Committee does not necessarily mean his popular acceptance in any future presidential elections. She explained that the Palestinian street looks forward to a comprehensive democratic process that ends the state of political stagnation that has lasted for nearly two decades.

The Palestinian Authority was established under the Oslo Accords as a temporary entity, but over time it transformed into a permanent administration facing existential challenges amid settlement expansion and the collapse of the peace process. The current leadership struggle further increases the uncertainty about the future of the Palestinian national project.

Sources within Fatah described Yasser Abbas's potential role as merely the 'beginning' of a plan aimed at bringing him to the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization. This path would grant him legal and political influence that extends beyond the movement's boundaries to represent the Palestinian people in international forums.

While the President's office remains silent regarding these reports, anticipation remains the dominant sentiment awaiting the outcome of the Fatah conference in May. The results of this conference will have a significant impact on determining whether the Authority will move towards radical reforms or continue its approach of maintaining the status quo by rotating positions within the inner circle.

Abbas is trying to poke holes in Fatah's ship by installing his son as an heir, and the movement's men must confront and reject this.