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In West Bank, Palestinians Prepare for Post-Abbas Power Struggle

(AFP-France 24) In Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank, some residents are preparing weapons for a potential power struggle when President Mahmoud Abbas, 85, finally leaves the stage. In Balata, outside of Nablus, walls are plastered with posters picturing the "martyr" Hatem Abu Rizq, 35, who was killed on Oct. 31 in intra-Palestinian violence. "He was killed by shots from the Palestinian Authority," says his mother. Exiled former Fatah Gaza security chief Mohammed Dahlan has been mentioned as a possible successor to Abbas. The PA's governor of Nablus, Ibrahim Ramadan, said "Hatem Abu Rizq was with Dahlan," adding that 14 members of the PA security forces have been wounded in attacks in Balata. Emad Zaki, who heads a committee that oversees services for Balata residents, said, "There are more weapons today in Balata than during the second intifada. There are rocket launchers, Kalashnikovs and M16 (assault rifles)."
2020-12-24 00:00:00
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