Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Appoints Close Aide Hussein al-Sheikh as Vice President

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has appointed his close aide Hussein al-Sheikh as the vice president of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The announcement was made on Saturday by Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the PLO's Executive Committee.

The new position of vice president was created by Abbas during the 32nd session of the Palestinian Central Council in Ramallah earlier this week. Al-Sheikh, 64, is a long-time member of Abbas’s Fatah movement, which controls the Palestinian Authority (PA), and is regarded as one of the president’s closest allies.

In his address during the session, Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to launching a “comprehensive national dialogue” aimed at achieving reconciliation and strengthening Palestinian unity. He also outlined upcoming political efforts focused on halting the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, ensuring humanitarian aid and medical supplies reach those in need, and asserting full Palestinian control over the Gaza Strip.

Abbas emphasized that these steps would serve as a foundation for a broader political process to end the Israeli occupation and work toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The creation of the vice presidency position and the appointment of al-Sheikh follow years of international calls for reforms within the PLO, and comes at a time when both Arab and Western powers are seeking an expanded role for the PA in the governance of Gaza, especially in the aftermath of the ongoing conflict.

The PLO, which was founded in 1964, serves as the political representative of the Palestinian people, negotiating treaties and advocating for their rights. However, it does not include the Hamas and Islamic Jihad factions, which control Gaza. The PA, on the other hand, governs parts of the West Bank.

Al-Sheikh’s appointment comes as Palestinian leaders continue to push for a renewed political effort to address the ongoing conflict and work towards the realization of a sovereign Palestinian state.