Congratulations, Mr. Dictator: Mahmoud Abbas Starts His 21st Year

On January 9, 2025, Mahmoud Abbas will start the twenty-first year of his first four-year term as leader of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Similar to U.S. law, the PA law¹ provides that the leader of the PA be elected for a four-year term, which can be extended, subject to re-election, for one additional four-year term.

Abbas was elected in the last PA elections to the position of “Chairman/Ra’is,” held in 2005.²

While the international community embraced Abbas, hoping that he would be different from Yasser Arafat, his terrorist predecessor, Abbas was never the popular Palestinian choice.

Of the 1,760,481 then potential voters in 2005, only 802,077 actually cast their vote. Of them, only 501,448 voted for Abbas.³ Despite being elected by only 35% of the electorate over 20 years ago, Abbas has disposed of any semblance.

Since the PA was established more than 30 years ago, the United States and the European Union have donated billions of dollars to build a functioning democratic society. While the donations kept flowing, everyone was content to turn a blind eye to the bleak reality.

In 2017, the EU adopted a multi-year plan for EU-PA collaboration.⁴ The plan stipulated that PA democracy was a “non-negotiable” term. At the time, Abbas was only in his twelfth year of his first four-year term.

While the reality of his dictatorship over the PA is clear, Abbas continues to enjoy international recognition.

Recently, Abbas, 89-years-old, tapped Rawhi Fattouh⁵ to succeed him, should he become temporarily or permanently incapable of performing his duties. Fattouh, according to the PA announcement, would hold the position until new Palestinian elections are held.

In Judaism, there is a tenet according to which “Actions of the Forefathers are a sign to the children.”

Arafat, who first led the PA, stayed in his position for ten years, was only elected once. Abbas has now stayed in his position, also being elected once – for over twenty years. Based on this poor record of accomplishment, it is possible that the international community should start getting used to the name Rawhi Fattouh. He may be with us for the coming decades.

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