Abbas appoints Hussein al-Sheikh as first-ever PLO vice president

The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee approved the appointment of Hussein al-Sheikh as the deputy head of the Executive Committee of the PLO and President of the State of Palestine on Saturday.

In a statement published by the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), the committee announced that it would meet again next Saturday to elect the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee from among its members, a position that al-Sheikh held before being appointed deputy president.

The statement also mentioned that President Mahmoud Abbas nominated al-Sheikh during the meeting, in line with a decision made by the Palestinian Central Council on April 24 during its 32nd session. This decision created the new position of Deputy Head of the Executive Committee of the PLO and President of the State of Palestine. Based on his powers, President Abbas nominated Hussein Shhadeh Mohammad al-Sheikh for the role.

WAFA further reported that the Executive Committee would reconvene next Saturday to elect the new Secretary-General of the Executive Committee.

In response, al-Sheikh thanked President Abbas through a post on X, saying: "My dear and trusted president, thank you sincerely for your confidence. I vow to uphold the trust you have placed in me, honoring the legacy of our homeland, Palestine, and its martyrs. Thank you for the loyalty that you embody."

He added: "I pledge, with the promise of our land, to remain loyal soldiers to our people and their sacrifices. Together, we march toward the dawn of Palestine, its longed-for freedom, and its inevitable victory. They see it as distant, but we see it as near. We are sincere in our pursuit. Glory to the martyrs, freedom for the prisoners, and healing for the wounded."

Who is Hussein al-Sheikh?

Born in Ramallah in 1960, Hussein al-Sheikh has long been a key figure in the Fatah movement. He was arrested by 'Israel' in 1978 for his involvement with Fatah and spent 11 years in prison. Upon his release in 1989, he became active in the first Palestinian intifada.

During the second intifada in 2000, al-Sheikh became involved in internal struggles within Fatah, but he remained an influential leader. In 2007, he was appointed head of the Civil Affairs Committee, which serves as the official link between the Palestinian Authority and 'Israel'. His political career continued to rise, and in 2009, he was elected to the central committee of Fatah, a position he retained after re-election in 2016.

In 2022, al-Sheikh joined the PLO Executive Committee and became Secretary of the Executive Committee as well as head of the Negotiations Affairs Department, bringing him closer to Abbas’s inner circle.

Al-Sheikh’s close relationship with Abbas has grown stronger in recent years, and his new role as vice president further solidifies his position as a leading figure in Palestinian politics. He has been involved in key discussions with 'Israeli', American, and Arab officials on critical issues facing the PA.