Mahmoud Abbas’s potential successor, who has ties to the CIA, is to be appointed next month

This position, poised to signal a successor to current PLO Chairman and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, marks a pivotal shift in Palestinian leadership dynamics. The announcement, confirmed by Ahmed Majdalani, a senior PLO Executive Committee member, comes amid mounting international pressure and a brewing internal power struggle.

Behind the scenes, a fierce contest is unfolding over who will fill this newly created deputy role. Yoni Ben-Menachem, a seasoned researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and expert in Arab affairs, reports that the United States is aggressively pushing for Majid Faraj, the head of PA Intelligence, to take the post. Faraj, known for his tight ties to the CIA and extensive security coordination with American counterparts, is seen as Washington’s preferred candidate. Senior Fatah officials, speaking to Ben-Menachem, underscored the intensity of U.S. influence in this decision, highlighting Faraj’s alignment with American interests.

In a recent Jerusalem Center article, Ben-Menachem frames this development as a watershed moment for the PA. After years of Abbas resisting calls for reform and fresh leadership, the war in Gaza has forced the PA to adapt to a transformed political landscape. The creation of the Deputy Chair position is not just a bureaucratic tweak—it’s a strategic move to bolster the PA’s diplomatic clout and address its eroding legitimacy. Abbas, now 89, has long dodged succession planning, but external pressures, particularly from the U.S., are now compelling action. As the PNC prepares to meet, the stakes are high: the choice of deputy could shape the PA’s future, its stance toward Israel, and its role in Palestinian unity efforts amidst ongoing regional turmoil.