*** Arab Summit: Abbas Announces New Vice President Role, Calls for Palestinian Elections | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Arab Summit: Abbas Announces New Vice President Role, Calls for Palestinian Elections

TDT | Manama

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President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed strong support for the Egyptian-Palestinian-Arab initiative for the reconstruction of Gaza, emphasizing that the process must ensure Palestinians remain in their homeland without displacement. He urged U.S. President Donald Trump to back these efforts.

Speaking at the emergency Arab Summit in Cairo on Tuesday, President Abbas warned of the serious challenges facing the Palestinian cause, particularly growing calls for the forced displacement of Palestinians, a notion he firmly rejected. He condemned Israeli policies that seek to impose a colonial settlement reality in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, arguing that such actions threaten the two-state solution and undermine Palestinian aspirations for statehood.

In a significant move, Abbas announced the creation of a new vice-presidential position for both the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the State of Palestine. He pledged to take the necessary legal steps to formalize the role, signaling a strategic shift in Palestinian governance.

The President also outlined a comprehensive vision for addressing the ongoing challenges to the Palestinian cause. This includes ensuring that the Palestinian government assumes its full responsibilities in Gaza, implementing the reconstruction plan, advancing governmental reform and development programs, and bolstering Palestinian national unity.

Reaffirming his commitment to democracy, Abbas expressed readiness to hold general elections—both presidential and legislative—next year, contingent on suitable conditions being met in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. He called on all factions to foster an environment conducive to fair and transparent elections.

As part of efforts to restructure Palestinian leadership, Abbas announced plans to revamp key national institutions and inject new leadership into the PLO, the Fatah movement, and state bodies. He confirmed that the Palestinian Central Council would soon convene to discuss these changes.

In a gesture aimed at fostering internal unity, Abbas declared a general amnesty for all dismissed members of the Fatah movement, reinforcing efforts to enhance organizational cohesion.

The emergency summit convened amid heightened regional tensions and intensified international focus on the future of Gaza and the broader Palestinian cause. The discussions highlighted the urgency of coordinated efforts to address reconstruction, governance, and the evolving political landscape in the region.