The Palestinian Authority, embodied by Mahmoud Abbas, has been in retreat since the start of the war in the Middle East on October 7. Hamas has relegated it to a supporting role.
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While Israel is forced to negotiate with Hamas for the release of the hostages, the Palestinian Authority appears in retreat and its president Mahmoud Abbas increasingly isolated.
On Wednesday, November 22 in Cairo (Egypt), advisors from the political branch of Hamas spoke with advisors to Marwan Barghouti, imprisoned for 20 years in Israel, and Mohamed Dahlan, former Fatah strongman in Gaza. The two men enjoy great popularity in Palestinian opinion and embody the opposition to Mahmoud Abbas. “The rural parties are getting organized”, assures Sarah Daoud, doctor in political science. She knows perfectly the mysteries of Palestinian power: “It is the organization of the opposition to Mahmoud Abbas which is being played out and which is discussing the post-mandate and the organization of an election.” A ballot to elect Abbas’ successor, he who has always refused to organize legislative and presidential elections.
“Hamas, in the eyes of many Palestinians, is one of the parties, along with Islamic Jihad, which embodies resistance to the occupation.”
Sarah Daoudat franceinfo
“Mahmoud Abbas was appointed, he was not elected as Yasser Arafat’s successor”, underlines Sarah Daoud. Losing legitimacy, Mahmoud Abbas no longer represents Palestinian nationalism against Hamas, which has relegated the Palestinian Authority to a secondary role. Joe Biden understands this well, he who campaigns for a Palestinian authority “revitalized” in other words with new frameworks to counterbalance the Islamists of Hamas.
