Palestinian Authority president Mahmous Abbas is accused of trying to consolidate his family's hold on his Fatah party by getting his son onto the 18-member central committee at the party's Congress, which starts today in Ramallah. 64-year-old Yasser Abbas, a wealthy businessman, is being fast-tracked to the committee, which would give his 90-year-old father a lasting foothold in the governing body. Abbas has headed the Palestinian Authority since 2005, but has declined to face voters in an elec
Palestinian Authority president Mahmous Abbas is accused of trying to consolidate his family's hold on his Fatah party by getting his son onto the 18-member central committee at the party's Congress, which starts today in Ramallah. 64-year-old Yasser Abbas, a wealthy businessman, is being fast-tracked to the committee, which would give his 90-year-old father a lasting foothold in the governing body. Abbas has headed the Palestinian Authority since 2005, but has declined to face voters in an election since then, even as allegations of corruption mount and the popularity of him and his fellow leaders has plummeted. Analysis by Tahani Mustafa, lecturer in International Relations at King’s College London.
