Saeb Erekat, who has been Mahmoud Abbas’ key man in so-called negotiations with Israel, has moved into the chair of the secretary-general of PLO, two weeks after Abbas appointed him to the post.
Erekat is the most likely successor to Abbas, who now is 80 years old and is serving his seventh year beyond the four-term to which he was elected in the first and last PA elections.
Assuming there will be new elections some day, Erekat may face opposition from Mohammed Dahlan, who was Abbas’ strong man in Gaza until he became too strong and a threat to Abbas.
Another likely candidate is arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life terms in prison for his involvement in the murder and injuries of hundreds of Israelis, which makes him the most popular man in the Palestinian Authority.
As head of the PLO, Erekat is its top leader except for Abbas. The PLO is in effect the senior organization to the Palestinian Authority.
Ashraf Khatib, a senior adviser for the PLO negotiations affairs department, told the Ma’an News Agency that Erekat is not being groomed as Abbas’ successor and that he was appointed to head the PLO to help restructure the organization.
Erekat replaces Abed Rabbo, who was fired by Abbas, reportedly because of suspicions that he and Dahlan were conspiring to undermine Abbas and take over the Palestinian Authority.
Erekat has become increasingly belligerent towards Israel. Last month, he recommended that the PLO withdraw its recognition of Israel, try to bring Hamas under the PLO umbrella and escalate the “peaceful struggle” against Israel, meaning “let’s kill the Jews.”
he PLO umbrella and escalate the “peaceful struggle” against Israel, meaning “let’s kill the Jews.”