Abbas’s meeting with Qatari emir is an attempt to maintain relevancy: Analysis

Mouin Rabbani, a co-editor of Jadaliyya, an online news source focused on the Arab world, spoke to Al Jazeera about Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s planned meeting with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He said Abbas has been “engaged in a life-and-death struggle (for) relevance since October 7”. On one hand, the West and, in particular, the US is proposing the Palestinian Authority (PA) play a role in post-war Gaza, Rabbani noted. However, they also recognise this is “out of the question” unless the PA is “rejuvenated”, and there has been “talk of replacing him with someone who would be more effective”, he said. He added that the visit is based on an “illusion” given that the PA in its current form lacks legitimacy, effectiveness and credibility and has been severely weakened by Israel and its Western allies. The visit, Rabanni said, is an attempt by Abbas to ensure that the PA maintains a “foot in the door” politically. Subscribe to our channel Follow us on Twitter Find us on Facebook Check our website: Download AJE Mobile App: #Palestine #Qatar #MahmoudAbbas #PalestinianAuthority #QatarDiplomacy #Hamas #PalestinianState #Israel #US #AntonyBlinken #Gaza #WarOnGaza #GazaUnderAttack #GazaHumanitarianCrisis #IsraelHamasWar #Hamas #GazaWar #IsraelWar #IsraelPalestineWar #IsraelGazaWar #GazaHumanitarianCrisis #GazaBombardment