Palestine's Abbas names deputy al-Sheikh as successor if presidency is vacated

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree naming his vice president, Hussein al-Sheikh, as acting president if the position becomes vacant. The decree allows the vice president to serve for up to 90 days while elections are organized, bypassing the speaker of parliament who is legally next in line for succession. This move has drawn sharp criticism from opponents like Hamas, who call it an unconstitutional power grab that complicates political reform. Al-Sheikh, known for his close ties to Israeli and American officials, reportedly has little popular support among Palestinians.