Sheikh and Mat: the appointment of a new vice president was explained in Palestine
The appointment of Hussein al-Sheikh to the post of vice president of Palestine is a legitimate step in response to international demands, the autonomy's ambassador to Russia, Abdel Hafiz Nofal, told Izvestia. Al-Sheikh will be the likely successor to President Abbas. Meanwhile, this provoked a sharp reaction from the Hamas movement, which accused Ramallah of trying to follow an external agenda. The post of Vice President was the first in the history of the Palestinian Authority. Russia expressed its support for the decision of its leadership. Meanwhile, Israel has adopted a plan to completely seize the territories of the Gaza Strip, displace civilians, attack command posts, and block access to humanitarian resources for militants.
Abbas has appointed a successor.
The appointment of Hussein al-Sheikh to the post of Vice President of the State of Palestine was a legitimate and justified step taken in response to international demands, his Ambassador to Russia, Abdel Hafiz Nofal, stressed in an interview with Izvestia. According to him, the decision was made officially, in compliance with all procedures within the framework of the work of the central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). In particular, the United States insisted on reforming the institutions of power in the Palestinian National Authority to revitalize government agencies. Other demands under former President Joe Biden were the fight against corruption, the empowerment of civil society, and support for a free press.
On April 26, the PLO Executive Committee approved the creation of a new institution of power — the post of Vice President of Palestine. Hussein al-Sheikh, a member of the Fatah central committee and secretary of the PLO Executive Committee, was appointed to this post. Two days earlier, this decision was prepared by the central council of the PLO. For the first time since the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994, the post of Deputy head of State appears in its structure.
— An official decision was made by the Palestinian leadership. This decision is legitimate, justified and made through the Palestinian Central Council. This happened in response to international demands. President Mahmoud Abbas made this clear at the Arab summit in Cairo on March 4. He touched upon the issue of elections and the election of the Deputy Chairman of the executive Committee," Abdel Hafiz Nofal told Izvestia.
Hussein al-Sheikh, one of the closest associates of 89-year-old President Mahmoud Abbas, is now seen as his most likely successor. This step is intended to strengthen the institutions of power and lay the foundation for transit in the face of increasing international pressure, as well as continuing intra-Palestinian disunity.
The Russian side supported the decision of the Palestinian leadership. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow considers Hussein al-Sheikh as "a responsible and experienced politician who enjoys respect in the region and the world." The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that he "consistently advocates a diplomatic settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the development of Russian-Palestinian relations."
Hussein al-Sheikh has been a member of the Fatah Central Committee since 2009. In 2017, he became a member of the reconciliation delegation, and in 2022 he was elected to the PLO executive committee. Hussein al-Sheikh was then selected as the Secretary General of the organization's executive committee and head of the negotiations department. According to the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, in recent years, al-Sheikh has become a close person to Abbas and has held numerous consultations with representatives of Israel, the United States and Arab countries on issues related to the Palestinian authority.
Inter-Palestinian dialogue
Nevertheless, not everyone in the Palestinian political arena found the initiative constructive. The Hamas movement strongly criticized the appointment, calling it "imposing autonomy on an external agenda" and "strengthening an autocratic course."
— Everything was done legitimately. The Central Council made its recommendations, and based on them, the President made a decision. He did not act alone. Why should President Abbas or the Palestinian leadership consult with Hamas about their political moves? Hamas is not a member of the executive committee. He is not a member of the PLO, despite all the attempts we have made on this issue," the Palestinian ambassador told Izvestia.
The positions of Hamas and Fatah, the two largest Palestinian movements, have continued to be antagonistic since 2007, when Hamas took control of Gaza. Reconciliation attempts have been made several times, but none have resulted in the integration of Hamas into the PLO structures representing Palestine in the international arena.
The differences between the two leading Palestinian movements Fatah and Hamas were largely the result of Israeli policy. In 2003, the Prime Minister of the Jewish State, Ariel Sharon, unilaterally withdrew Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip without coordination with Ramallah. Then Hamas, taking advantage of the opportunity, presented this as its victory and announced the "expulsion" of Israeli troops, which caused significant damage, including reputational damage, to the PA.
In 2006, Hamas won the elections to the legislative Council of the PA, after which it formed a government headed by Ismail Haniyeh. In 2007, the movement expelled Fatah functionaries, completely seizing power in Gaza.
In recent years, inter-Palestinian discussions about the possibility of restoring unity have intensified. This issue was raised at a meeting of the factions held from February 29 to March 1 in Moscow. Then the parties agreed to continue the dialogue under the auspices of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
The inter-Palestinian dialogue continued in Beijing, where on July 23, the factions signed a declaration ending the split. The document contained plans for the creation of a provisional government of national unity under the auspices of the PLO after the war. However, the intra-Palestinian split remains the main obstacle to advancing the political process.
"Fatah calls on the Hamas movement to put the highest national interests at the forefront, abandon narrow factional considerations and join the ranks of the national consensus within the framework of a unified political system under the auspices of the Palestine Liberation Organization," Fatah movement spokesman Abdel Fattah Al-Dawla told Izvestia.
Israel increases pressure on Hamas
Against the background of the ongoing Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip and the humanitarian catastrophe, which has become one of the largest in the recent history of the region, the leadership of the Palestinian Authority calls on Hamas to refrain from actions that can be interpreted as a reason for continued violence.
"Stop giving Israel excuses to continue its aggression in Gaza," Mahmoud Abbas said, calling on Hamas to release the hostages.
Abbas' statement provoked a sharp reaction from the Hamas leadership. One of the senior representatives of the movement, Bassem Nayim, called the words of the head of the PA offensive and accused him of playing along with the Israeli side. "Abbas suspiciously often shifts the blame for the crimes of the occupation and the ongoing aggression onto our people," Nayim stressed.
In recent weeks, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Gaza have intensified, with Egypt once again mediating negotiations between Israel and Hamas. On April 26, consultations were held in Cairo with the participation of high-ranking representatives of the movement. The five-year truce and the exchange of Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza became the central topic of discussion. According to the Jewish state, of the 250 people captured by militants on October 7, 2023, 59 are still being held in the enclave, of whom 24 are believed to be alive.
At the same time, Israel is increasing pressure on Hamas. Since mid-March, the army has been conducting operations in the sector again, expanding security zones and limiting the delivery of humanitarian aid. This approach is officially fixed in the operational plan, which was unanimously approved by the military-political Cabinet. The document, submitted by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizes the goal of the complete elimination of Hamas and the return of all hostages. The plan provides for the seizure of territories, displacement of civilians, attacks on command posts, as well as blocking access of militants to humanitarian resources.
Netanyahu called the strategy realistic and effective, emphasizing that unlike previous operations, this time it is not about targeted actions, but about the complete establishment of control over the territory. The Cabinet also expressed its willingness to allow international humanitarian aid, provided that it is distributed without the involvement of Hamas, in order to undermine its governance structures.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
