Eight terror organizations including Hamas made a declaration in Damascus that PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) is no longer “the Palestinian president,” explaining his term in office has ended and therefore, they do not recognize the legitimacy of his continued self-proclaimed leadership.
 
According to PA law, his term ran out on January 9th and since new elections were not held, it is somewhat unclear who runs the show.
 
Fatah, Abu Mazen’s party, is seeking to maintain control in Yehuda and Shomron but resistance among opponents, primarily Hamas, remains strong. Fatah tried to solidify his position and towards that goal, a secret meeting was held of the PLO executive committee in December, at which time Abu Mazen was declared “President of the State of Palestine”. Supporters of Abu Mazen explain the vote strengthens his position, even after January 9th but opposition parties say otherwise.
 
At present, Abu Mazen maintains four official titles, president of Palestine, chairman of the PA (Palestinian Authority), chairman of the PLO and executive director of Fatah.
 
From Israel’s point of view, the problem is more complex since the secret meeting bestowing the title of president of the State of Palestine to legitimize his position after January 9th conflicts with the Oslo Agreement of 1993. Israel never accepted the title, which became more prominent following the death of Abu Mazen’s predecessor, arch terrorist Yasser Arafat.
 
In the past, agreements signed with Israel by Arafat using the title “president” were returned and Abu Mazen in similar dealings has used the title “chairman”.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)