In a notable political development, the Palestine Liberation Organization on Thursday introduced a new leadership position beneath its aging leader Mahmoud Abbas, who at 89 has yet to name an heir.
The PLO Central Council approved the creation of a vice president role, a move seen as part of Abbas’s effort to maintain influence and carve out a leadership stake in future governance of Gaza. The Palestinian Authority has been largely excluded from current developments as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.
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