Palestinian president’s son elected to top Fatah leadership body
Yasser Abbas, the son of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has been elected to Fatah's central committee during the party's first congress in years. The congress, held across multiple cities, saw high voter turnout and included the re-election of key figures like Marwan Barghouti and Jibril Rajoub. Fatah faces ongoing challenges to its legitimacy amid public frustration and competition from rival groups like Hamas.
- ▪Yasser Abbas, a businessman based in Canada, was elected to Fatah's central committee.
- ▪Marwan Barghouti received the highest number of votes in the preliminary results.
- ▪Jibril Rajoub was reelected as secretary-general of the central committee.
- ▪Zakaria Zubeidi, a former Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades commander, was among the newcomers elected.
- ▪Two women, including Ramallah governor Laila Ghannam, won seats on the central committee.
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Palestinian president’s son elected to top Fatah leadership bodySign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxMr Yasser Abbas (left), a businessman who spends most of his time in Canada, secured a place on the central committee.PHOTO: REUTERSPublished May 17, 2026, 03:56 PMUpdated May 17, 2026, 03:56 PMRAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories - The son of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas won a seat on Fatah’s top decision-making body on May 17, as initial results emerged from the Palestinian movement’s first congress in years.Mr Yasser Abbas, 64, a businessman who spends most of his time in Canada, secured a place on the central committee after being appointed around five years ago as his father’s “special representative” – a role that marked his gradual emergence on the political…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.