Abbas is not seeking a second term

Abbas step-down will help Palestinian cause Press TV Iran — Hamas says Mahmoud Abbas' departure from his position, as acting Palestinian Authority Chief will help the Palestinian cause. "There are many Palestinians who are ready to take on the responsibility of leading the Palestinians people," senior Hamas official Mushir al-Masri said in an inclusive interview with Press TV on Friday, adding, "Those replacing Abbas may even elevate the Palestinian cause to the next level." click to read complete article

Supporters urge Abbas to run again Aljazeera — Supporters of Fatah, the Palestinian faction led by Mahmoud Abbas, have taken to the streets in the West Bank city of Ramallah in an attempt to force the Palestinian president to reconsider his decision not to seek re-election. Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh, reporting from Ramallah, said supporters who wanted Abbas to run again rallied on Friday following his announcement a day earlier that he would not stand in presidential elections scheduled for January. click to read complete article

Mahmoud Abbas gives up his leadership in fresh blow to peace process Times Online London — Mahmoud Abbas, the increasingly isolated Palestinian President, announced yesterday that he would not stand for re-election in polls due in January, dealing a further blow to the US-sponsored peace process. The announcement, made as Mr Abbas’s political standing hit an all-time low, exposed Palestinian frustrations at the Obama Administration’s failure to halt Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank. click to read complete article