RAMALLAH: The Fatah movement organized massive protest rallies in West Bank cities following Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ announcement that he would not be seeking another term in office.

The rallies were held in the West bank cities of Ramallah, Nablus, Jericho and Tulkarm. The participants carried yellow Fatah flags and red, white, green and black Palestinian flags.

They also called on Abbas to change his mind and run in the upcoming election.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Thursday that he has “no desire” to run in the presidential election in the PA territories, slated for Jan. 24.

In a televised speech from Ramallah, Abbas said he informed Fatah and PLO officials of his decision late on Wednesday night. He said that he was planning to take other steps in the future, but did not elaborate.

PA officials said that Abbas’s decision came in protest of the US administration’s failure to exert pressure on Israel to stop construction work in the West Bank settlements.

Amin Makboul, Secretary General of Fatah Revolutionary Council said that Abbas is the movement’s only candidate for the coming presidential elections.

“The only alternative to Abbas is Abbas himself,” Makboul told Arab News during the Ramallah demonstration.

Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres expressed concern over Abbas’s announcement that he would not be running for reelection in January.

Peres telephoned Abbas on Thursday night in an effort to persuade him to change his mind, saying that he was worried that the decision could trigger a political crisis which could lead to a Hamas takeover in the West Bank.

Abbas’ possible successors

But should Abbas follow through on his announcement, several names from the Fatah movement have been mentioned in connection to a possible successor.

Fatah sources said that Mohammad Dahlan is the highest-flying candidate who enjoys extensive support from public sectors and also among the veteran leadership, which at this time is out of the decision-making loop.

However, Dahlan’s problem is the personal campaign managed against him by Hamas and media outlets associated with it.

Another name brought up is Abu Maher Ghnaim, the movement’s number two man, and one of its veterans in Tunisia.

Another candidate whose name was brought up is former Palestinian ambassador to the UN and retired Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Qidwah. Al-Qidwah’s political skills, as well as the international recognition of them, serve as an advantage to the former ambassador.

The final name on the list of possible candidates is the Fatah Parliament member Marwan Al-Barghouthi, who is currently in an Israeli prison.

Barghouthi is considered the candidate with the highest chances of beating Hamas but his incarceration makes his candidacy irrelevant.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon on Friday said that he does not see Barghouthi’s pardon and release from jail even if he is elected to replace Abbas as president of the Palestinian Authority.