A lengthy report by Israel Hayom published Friday, based on an interview with Pinhas, who has been documenting and researching Palestinian society for 50 years. Shragai said that Abbas’s future successors are many.
Majid Faraj (head of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service) and Hussein Al-Sheikh (PA’s civil affairs Minister), are two possible candidates for the PA president.
Inbari claims that Shragai stated that these men are “strong in the media and for the moment they benefit from the support given by Abbas. But on the ground they aren’t they aren’t so strong.”
According to Inbari, an Israeli journalist reported that Inbari indicated that “From the Israeli defense establishment the possibility of the two acting together as Abass’s heirs after the departure of Rais – who now is 86 and is in ill health – is the ideal scenario.”
Both were present at Abbas’s meeting in Jerusalem with Benny Gantz, Israeli Defence Minister, and Yair Lapid, Foreign Minister. Shragai pointed out that Faraj was given an award by the USA for information he gave over. This led to the capture and arrest of a senior Al-Qaeda operative.
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Shragai stated that Abbas began to split the power among his confidantes in recent months. He has promoted Faraj, Sheikh and then handed over his powers.” Sources at PA said.
Shragai stated that Mohammed Dahlan was the one who had been dismissed by Abbas from Fatah. He said: “Has been buying his influence – literally- in the refugee camps of the West Bank or Lebanon for years.”
He stated that Dahlan’s money is used primarily to purchase arms. This has allowed him to build up power bases in Jenin and in the Balata refugee camps, Qalandia refugee camps near Jerusalem, Al Am’ari camps near Ramallah, as well as elsewhere in the West Bank.
He also reported Inbari, explaining that there would be a civil conflict. Sometimes I feel sorry to the Palestinian security personnel, everyone who was involved with the shedding Palestinian blood… They [Palestinians] wait for the right time to eliminate these people. Shragai spoke of incidents that occurred in Jenin last November, when PA security failed crackdown on Jenin fighters.
Shragai also pointed out that Marwan Barbghouti could be another potential heir. He: “Has immense influence over Israeli prisons and security sources believe the inheritance battles will also have an impact on the prisons.”
He said: “It’s possible that against such an backdrop, we will witness strikes, riots and various protests from the prisoners.”
Shragai also shared that Hamas isn’t sitting idly at either, noting that Hamas demanded that Barghouti be included in the prisoner swap with Israel.
Shragai reported that Inbari concluded that “the gun would talk” during the struggle to select the successor of the PA president.
