Mahmoud Abbas announced that he is not going to run for a second term by Iqbal Tamimi

[M.T. Al-Mansouri, Ph.D.]

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced few hours ago, his decision not to run for a second term in the elections called for to be held on 24 January. Abbas said in a speech in Ramallah in the West Bank, "I told the brothers in the Executive Committee of the PLO and Fatah's Central about my desire not to nominate myself for the next presidential election." ‘I hope they will understand my wish, and that there are other steps I will announce later’. The Secretary of the Executive Committee of the PLO, Yasser Abed Rabbo told the reporters that Abbas will not run for the presidential elections, during a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization who are trying to dissuade him from his decision.