Hussein al-Sheikh's election as deputy chairman of the PLO Executive Committee — effectively Mahmoud Abbas' deputy — marks him as the highest-ranking Palestinian from the West Bank within the Palestinian Authority.
Many Fatah activists believe this brings him significantly closer to leading the PA, though the ultimate decision will come through transparent presidential elections.
Senior Fatah officials view this as the start of a new era, shifting away from the founding generation's three-decade dominance. Al-Sheikh’s appointment was approved by Fatah’s Central Committee and the PLO’s governing bodies.
Al-Sheikh’s rise was rapid: appointed in 2022 to replace Saeb Erekat in the PLO Executive Committee, he soon became secretary of the committee and head of negotiations, strengthening his leadership position. Over the past two years, he has become Abbas’ closest confidant, leading key talks with Israel, the U.S., and Arab states.