Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has turned 90, highlighting concerns about his capacity to lead amid declining public support. Israeli policies and governance constraints have further weakened his authority. His age and unpopularity raise urgent questions about succession and the future direction of Palestinian politics. Observers will watch for signs of internal reform, potential challengers, and regional responses.
Abbas Turns 90: Weakened by Israeli Policies and Widely Unpopular — What Comes Next for Palestinian Leadership?
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has turned 90, highlighting concerns about his capacity to lead amid declining public support. Israeli policies and governance constraints have further weakened his authority. His age and unpopularity raise urgent questions about succession and the future direction of Palestinian politics. Observers will watch for signs of internal reform, potential challengers, and regional responses.
01:35 PM, 11/15/2025Politics
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas marks his 90th birthday amid deepening uncertainty
Mahmoud Abbas, who has led the Palestinian Authority for nearly two decades, has turned 90. His age and declining public support have intensified scrutiny of his ability to shape the future of Palestinian politics.
Abbas’s authority has been eroded by multiple factors, including Israeli actions that have constrained Palestinian governance and undermined the perceived effectiveness of the Palestinian Authority. Many Palestinians view him as disconnected from the younger generation and ill-equipped to advance statehood or meaningful reforms.
Domestically, Abbas faces widespread unpopularity and a legitimacy gap that raises difficult questions about succession. The lack of a clear, broadly accepted successor or an agreed electoral pathway adds to political uncertainty and could reshape intra-Palestinian dynamics, including relations between Fatah and other factions.
Regionally, his weakened position complicates negotiations and the broader prospects for peace, as external actors weigh how to engage with Palestinian leadership that is seen as diminished. Observers say the coming months are likely to focus on who might emerge as a credible leader and how Palestinians will address the political vacuum.
What to watch next: indicators to follow include any moves toward internal political reforms or elections, shifts in Palestinian factional alignments, and how regional and international actors respond to changes in Palestinian leadership.