Palestinian President Preparing His Son As Successor: A Big Gamble

1. Yasser Abbas, the eldest son of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, was elected to Fatah’s Central Committee, the movement’s highest executive body. His election significantly strengthens his political standing and has reignited speculation that he is being positioned to play a leading role in the Palestinian leadership after his father.

2.Yasser Abbas has steadily expanded his political profile over recent years by accompanying his father on official visits, representing him at high-level meetings, and becoming increasingly involved in Palestinian political affairs. His growing influence has fueled criticism among opponents who see it as an attempt to consolidate the Abbas family’s control over the Palestinian Authority.

3. The emergence of Yasser Abbas has intensified the broader succession battle within Fatah. While he is now viewed as a more prominent figure, several other senior Fatah leaders remain potential successors to Mahmoud Abbas, leaving the future leadership of the Palestinian Authority uncertain and likely to become the focus of increasing internal competition.
4. Jafaj has learned from a Palestinian political source serving within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), who spoke on condition of anonymity, that recent political developments surrounding Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have intensified internal debate over succession within Fatah, the dominant faction of the PLO and the movement that has led the Palestinian Authority since its establishment.
5. According to the source, the election of Abbas’ son, Yasser Abbas, to Fatah’s Central Committee—the movement’s highest executive body—has been interpreted by many senior Fatah officials as an attempt to position him for a future leadership role following the eventual departure of his father. The source described the development as causing “significant dismay” among veteran Fatah figures, who reportedly believe that Yasser Abbas lacks the revolutionary credentials and long political experience of many senior members.
6. The source stated that many within the movement view Yasser Abbas as “a privileged little boy” who has not earned his position through the decades-long political and organizational struggle experienced by veteran PLO and Fatah leaders.
7. According to the same source, members of the Abbas family have historically held Jordanian, Qatari, and Canadian citizenships, although not every family member necessarily possesses all three nationalities. The source further claimed that Yasser Abbas spent part of his life in Canada.
8. The Palestinian source compared the reported succession effort to former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s attempt to prepare his son Gamal Mubarak for power, as well as the succession from Hafez al-Assad to Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The source argued that such models ultimately generated significant political instability. The source added: “Mark my words. Look me in the eye. This will not pass. This man will never become Palestinian president after his father’s death. We will not allow it. Palestinians are not prepared to accept hereditary political succession.”
9. An Israeli security source with close professional contacts to officials within the Palestinian Authority separately told JAFAJ that, in the source’s assessment, the succession issue extends beyond political leadership. According to the source, members of the Abbas family have accumulated substantial commercial interests and business monopolies in parts of the West Bank, and preserving both political influence and economic interests is viewed by some as an important consideration in the current succession debate.
10. The Israeli source further assessed that the Abbas family’s political influence and economic position could become significantly more vulnerable after Mahmoud Abbas leaves office, adding that competing factions within Fatah and the PLO would likely challenge the family’s position in the absence of his authority.
11. While Yasser Abbas’ election has renewed speculation regarding the post-Abbas era, multiple influential figures—including Hussein al-Sheikh, Majed Faraj, Jibril Rajoub, and Marwan Barghouti—remain widely viewed as potential contenders for future leadership, making the eventual succession within Fatah and the Palestinian Authority highly uncertain.