Is Abbas’ resignation from PLO bid to consolidate power?

Critics claim that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has resigned as chairman of the PLO's Executive Committee to force a re-election and then stack the new committee with his supporters.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas chairs a PLO Executive Committee meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Aug. 22, 2015. - REUTERS/Majdi Mohammed/Pool
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Ahmad Melhem
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RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and nine other members resigned Aug. 22 from the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in a bid to force the Palestinian National Council to hold an extraordinary session within one month and elect a new executive committee, knowing that the council has not convened since 1996.

Although Abbas said the resignations are merely aimed at “activating the Executive Committee,” politicians interviewed by Al-Monitor said the intent is to stack the committee with Abbas supporters.

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