Mahmoud Abbas may be the final Palestinian leader to advocate for a two-state solution and to oppose violence as a means of achieving it, according to a potential successor of the Palestinian Authority president in a recent conversation with The Times of Israel.
Jibril Rajoub, the secretary-general of Abbas’s Fatah party and former head of the PA’s security forces, explained that Abbas is “the last founding pillar of the Palestinian national movement who believes in two things: making historic reconciliation [with Israel] based on the two-state solution [and] that blood-shedding should not be a choice to achieve [that goal].”
Rajoub emphasized that although Fatah and most factions within the Palestine Liberation Organization continue to support a two-state solution, he doubts that anyone after Abbas would have the courage to lead efforts toward a peace agreement.
For this reason, Rajoub urged the Trump administration to engage with Abbas immediately. “Whether we like him or not, [Abbas] is still legitimate, and his baby remains settling this conflict through peaceful means.”
It is unusual for officials within the PLO to publicly criticize Abbas, but Rajoub’s choice to praise the PA president in an interview with an English-language outlet signals his intent to maintain favorable relations with him.
While elections are not on the horizon and the almost 90-year-old Abbas has not identified a successor, Rajoub, at 71, is often mentioned as a potential replacement due to his strong position within Fatah and other Palestinian factions.
Rajoub indicated that Hamas could also play a role in Palestinian leadership, provided it accepts the obligations of the PLO, including recognizing Israel and committing to “non-violence as a strategic choice.”
He drew a comparison, suggesting that those questioning whether Hamas should be involved in Palestinian politics—especially following its actions on October 7, 2023—are not applying the same scrutiny to Israeli hardliners.
“What about the same crazy groups inside Israel? No one is asking about [Itamar] Ben Gvir and [Bezalel] Smotrich,” Rajoub remarked, referring to the two far-right figures with whom Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a coalition government two years ago.
Despite his criticism of certain Israeli political figures, Rajoub condemned Hamas’s violence on October 7.
“I know that innocent people, including peace activists, along with women and children were killed that day. No one can support something like that,” Rajoub said, who also chairs the Palestinian Football Association.
Rajoub, however, pointed out that the conflict did not start on that date, citing decades of “home demolitions, settlement building, humiliations and killing” of Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
He argued that the escalation of these actions under Netanyahu’s leadership has contributed to rising antisemitism outside Israel, which has reached record levels in some Western countries following the October 7 attack and the subsequent war in Gaza.
“Israelis are now instructed to remove their kippa when abroad,” Rajoub stated. “Is this what they want?”
When asked about calls for reform within the Palestinian political system, which remains dominated by Abbas, Rajoub acknowledged the necessity of change and emphasized that it is “in our national interest.”
With the PA having not held elections for nearly two decades, Rajoub stated that political reform is vital. He also argued that a future Palestinian state must adhere to democratic principles and maintain “one authority, one law and one gun.”
“I think that we do need to make reforms… But the corruption in the PA is kindergarten compared to Mr. Bibi and his mafia,” Rajoub said, referencing Netanyahu’s ongoing criminal trial.
Despite these challenges, Rajoub remained hopeful about the prospects for mutual recognition. “Still, we should not lose hope, and we should not give up,” he declared.
“Trust between us is zero. They have their reasons, and we have ours,” he said, suggesting that a third-party mediator is necessary to guide both sides toward a resolution.
Rajoub identified the international community as the potential third party, with the United States taking the lead in exerting pressure on Israel.
There was initially some hope in Ramallah that the US would be willing to play such a role, particularly following a ceasefire and hostage release deal brokered by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, between Netanyahu and Hamas after a prolonged deadlock.
However, that optimism quickly faded after Trump expressed his desire to have the US take control of Gaza and relocate its residents permanently.
“It’s a shame for this administration to abuse the suffering of innocent people,” Rajoub remarked.
In the short term, Washington has focused on extending the Gaza ceasefire and arranging further hostage exchanges between Israel and Hamas.
Rajoub has a personal connection to such deals, having been released from an Israeli prison in the 1980s as part of a similar agreement.
He spent 17 years in custody for his involvement in violence against Israel and used the time to study the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“My conclusion was that without making space for Israelis’ rational concerns… I can’t achieve my national aspirations,” Rajoub explained.
“The Israelis — like the Palestinians — have the right to live in peace, in security, with normalizations… but within the internationally recognized borders,” he continued, referring to the pre-1967 armistice lines.
Rajoub also addressed the type of hostage exchange deal he would support, saying, “It should be everybody for everybody, so we can open a new chapter.”
{Matzav.com Israel}The post Potential Successor Warns That Abbas May Be The Last PA Leader To Believe In A Two-State Solution first appeared on Matzav.com.