Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s decades long grip on power is crumbling, with Arab leaders now pressing Trump officials to help remove the aging terrorist leader.
Abbas’s grip on power has steadily weakened during his 19-year tenure, which began with what was meant to be just a four-year term. Since 2005, Palestinians have not held national elections, with Abbas canceling several attempted votes amid Fatah-Hamas disagreements. Abbas’s recent attempt to crack down on terror groups in Jenin has only reinforced regional doubts about his capabilities. After 19 days, the security operation has achieved no notable successes.
Multiple sources reveal to the Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL) that Abbas’s isolation is deepening. His recent plan to restore PA governance in Gaza was allegedly developed without input from his cabinet or the Fatah Central Committee. It was shared with only three close associates, including intelligence chief Majed Faraj, Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa, and senior PLO figure Hussein al-Sheikh. The US in turn rejected the plan.
“The Palestinian Authority now has no possibility of influencing the emerging situation in the Gaza Strip, and apart from the plan that was sent to the White House after being hastily prepared, there is no real Palestinian strategy,” a senior Arab diplomatic source tells TPS-IL.
In a series of recent meetings with Trump’s new Middle East advisor Steve Witkoff, Arab leaders indicated that they see no diplomatic value in maintaining ties with Abbas and want to see him gone.
“Not only is Abbas preventing a comprehensive agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, he is also obstructing efforts to resolve the situation in Gaza due to his political weakness,” says an Arab diplomat involved in the discussions.
A December poll by the Ramallah-based Arab World for Research and Development found 71% of Palestinians disapprove of Abbas’s leadership, criticizing his failure to provide vision (76%), limited public communication (77%), and poor governance (73%).
For Israel, they would have no problem seeing Abbas gone after spending his career rewarding terrorists under the notorious “pay to slay” program.
According to Palestinian Media Watch, monthly payments to imprisoned terrorists under the program skyrocketed by $2 million. The surge comes after the PA recognized thousands of additional terrorists as eligible, including those captured in Gaza since fighting broke out after Oct. 7. All told, Abbas will be paying out at least $16.4 million per month to reward those who shed innocent Israeli blood.
