Global Geopolitical Series: Mahmoud Abbas reelected as PA President

Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestine Authority (PA), formerly known as Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has been reelected as the President by PLO’s executive committee. The reappointment came amid global outrage over Abbas’s comments where he denied the Holocaust and said that the historical prosecution of European Jews was caused by their own conduct.

The reappointment of Abbas came after a four-day executive meeting held by PLO’s Executive Committee in Ramallah, the second most important city for the PA after Jerusalem. This was the first such meeting held by the committee in 22 years.

The reelection strengthened Abbas’s position ahead of the expected peace negotiations with Israel and the United States. After President Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Abbas ruled out sitting in peace negotiations with the United States being the sole mediator.