The New Palestinian Leader

Mahmoud Abbas to Succeed Arafat, Work for a Palestinian State

Palestinians went to the polls Sunday to choose a successor to the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat. They elected Arafat's long-time party deputy, Mahmoud Abbas. Despite less-than-expected voter turnout, Palestinians made a positive endorsement of their new leader. Now, Abbas must balance the competing factions within the occupation-weary Palestinian coummunity and implement a plan for negotiating with Israel in order to achieve a Palestinian state.