Abed Rabbo dismissed as Secretary of the PLO

Sources in Ramallah have revealed that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, in his capacity as the head of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation’s Executive Committee, has dismissed Yasser Abed Rabbo from his position as the PLO Secretary. A number of differences have opened up between the two senior Palestinian figures. President Abbas announced his decision to appoint a new secretary to the organisation during a meeting of Palestinian factions in Cairo.

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Despite this, the Media Centre at the PA declined to comment, telling Quds Press that a presidential decree will be issued to confirm or deny Abed Rabbo’s dismissal from his post. Senior PLO member Dr Hanan Ashrawi, however, said that the President has not dismissed the long-term holder of the PLO Secretariat position: “The media reports are pure speculation,” she added. “Abbas has not informed anyone in the Executive Committee of an intention to dismiss Abed Rabbo.”

Palestinian and Arab media outlets have been circulating news of Abbas’s intention to sack Abed Rabbo following differences between the two PLO figures. It has also been reported that a presidential decree sacking Abed Rabbo from his position as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Palestinian Radio and TV body will be issued in early 2012.