Abbas Leaves Hospital but Speculation Remains Rife

The discharge of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from a Ramallah hospital after nine days of treatment of a lung infection has apparently done little to stem the rise in speculation over his future as president and his ultimate replacement. For his part, Abbas gave no indication that he is ready to step aside or even discuss who he himself sees as heir-apparent. Meanwhile, word from Ramallah is that the wanabes have begun to jockey for position. Abbas was elected to a five-year term in 2007 and has remained in his seat ever since, largely because Palestinian disunity has prevented a national election. Now 83, polling consistently shows a growing majority of the people believing it’s time for a change to be made.