ASSESSMENTS

What a PA Succession Crisis Would Mean for the West Bank

Nov 1, 2023 | 19:26 GMT

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) at United Nations headquarters on Sept. 21, 2023, in New York City.
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) at United Nations headquarters on Sept. 21, 2023, in New York City.

(Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

The Palestinian Authority (PA) faces a succession crisis that risks leaving the governmental body without a leader, which could cause major political upheaval and social unrest in the West Bank, especially in light of the escalating Israel-Hamas war in nearby Gaza. 87-year-old PA President Mahmoud Abbas has yet to name a successor, despite his age and allegedly ailing health. While different members of Fatah, the dominant political party within the PA, are already vying to replace Abbas, none have so far gained enough legitimacy within the party or the government to emerge as a clear successor....

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