Palestinian President's Son Elected to Fatah Leadership
Yasser Abbas secures seat on Fatah's central committee as the Palestinian movement holds its first congress in years.
RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: Yasser Abbas, the son of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, secured a place on Fatah’s central committee after being appointed his father’s 'special representative' five years ago.
The 64-year-old businessman, who is based primarily in Canada, emerged as a significant political figure within the movement.
Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti topped the preliminary results, retaining his seat on the committee with the highest number of votes, according to figures seen by AFP. Jibril Rajoub was reelected as secretary-general, a position he has held since 2017.
Other incumbents who retained their seats included Palestinian vice president Hussein Al-Sheikh, Fatah deputy leader Mahmoud Al-Aloul, and ex-Palestinian intelligence chief Tawfiq Tirawi.
Among the newcomers elected to the body was Zakaria Zubeidi, a former commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah’s armed wing in the Jenin refugee camp.
Zubeidi was released from an Israeli prison last year under a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.
Two women also won seats, including Ramallah governor Laila Ghannam.
The three-day congress, held across Ramallah, Gaza, Cairo, and Beirut, saw a turnout of 94.64 percent among the 2,507 voters who participated.
Fifty-nine candidates competed for 18 seats on the central committee, while 450 vied for 80 seats on the revolutionary council, Fatah’s parliament.
In his opening address, President Abbas vowed to pursue reforms and hold long-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections.
The Palestinian Authority faces international pressure to implement reforms amid accusations of corruption and political stagnation that have eroded its legitimacy among Palestinians.
Fatah has historically been the dominant force within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which groups most Palestinian factions but excludes Islamist movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Fatah's popularity has waned in recent decades due to internal divisions and public frustration over the stagnation of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, leading to a rise in support for rival Hamas.
The 64-year-old businessman, who is based primarily in Canada, emerged as a significant political figure within the movement.
Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti topped the preliminary results, retaining his seat on the committee with the highest number of votes, according to figures seen by AFP. Jibril Rajoub was reelected as secretary-general, a position he has held since 2017.
Other incumbents who retained their seats included Palestinian vice president Hussein Al-Sheikh, Fatah deputy leader Mahmoud Al-Aloul, and ex-Palestinian intelligence chief Tawfiq Tirawi.
Among the newcomers elected to the body was Zakaria Zubeidi, a former commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah’s armed wing in the Jenin refugee camp.
Zubeidi was released from an Israeli prison last year under a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.
Two women also won seats, including Ramallah governor Laila Ghannam.
The three-day congress, held across Ramallah, Gaza, Cairo, and Beirut, saw a turnout of 94.64 percent among the 2,507 voters who participated.
Fifty-nine candidates competed for 18 seats on the central committee, while 450 vied for 80 seats on the revolutionary council, Fatah’s parliament.
In his opening address, President Abbas vowed to pursue reforms and hold long-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections.
The Palestinian Authority faces international pressure to implement reforms amid accusations of corruption and political stagnation that have eroded its legitimacy among Palestinians.
Fatah has historically been the dominant force within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which groups most Palestinian factions but excludes Islamist movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Fatah's popularity has waned in recent decades due to internal divisions and public frustration over the stagnation of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, leading to a rise in support for rival Hamas.
