Palestinian Authority Reshuffles Power Amid War: A Pre-Abbas Era in the Making
A controversial move to appoint a Vice President signals deeper political maneuvering, sidelining unity and resistance in the shadow of war on Gaza.
Watan-At a time as critical as the decision itself, the Palestinian Central Council approved a pivotal step by announcing the creation of a “Vice President of the Authority” position—amid a lack of national unity, escalating war on Gaza, and intense external pressures.
Though the decision appeared administrative on the surface, it quickly revealed itself as a deep political maneuver to prepare for the “post-Mahmoud Abbas” phase. The Authority’s president, now over eighty, seems to be racing against time to secure a “guaranteed successor” in a formula that satisfies Washington and Tel Aviv while marginalizing the resistance and all who champion it.
The Democratic Front withdrew, the Popular Front boycotted, and the National Initiative rejected it. Nevertheless, the decision passed with a nominal majority, stripping it of broad consensus and transforming what was supposed to be a reformative step into yet another unraveling of the Palestinian political scene.
Power Without People
Ironically, the new decision gives Abbas exclusive authority to nominate, dismiss, or accept the resignation of the vice president—essentially rendering the new position symbolic. The vice president becomes a “president-in-training” or a quiet political pawn being groomed to assume power without popular backing.
Statements from Democratic Front leaders revealed that American and Israeli pressure influenced the move. The goal? A Palestinian leadership that aligns with the Western vision for Gaza’s reconstruction: no weapons, no resistance, and no Hamas.
Introduced in the heart of the war, analysts consider the move an attempt to impose a “new political reality” that sidelines the resistance project in favor of a functional leadership model—one more flexible for the next phase, particularly in light of regional changes.
Given that Mahmoud Abbas once described operations against the occupation as “irresponsible acts,” what will be the stance of his chosen successor?
Will we soon witness a scene where a “new Palestinian president” shakes hands with Biden and Netanyahu before he greets his own people?
Or oversees Gaza’s reconstruction… under the enemy’s conditions?
The Authority is reshuffling its deck—but the real question remains: to whose benefit?
