* Abu Mazen | Palestine | By Tamer Youssef | Pencil Sketch on Bristol Paper | Greenville | South Carolina | USA | November 2005 | Colors using Photoshop CS3 2008 | Tamer Youssef's Caricature World *

Mahmoud Abbas (born March 26, 1935), also known by the kunya Abu Mazen, has been the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) since November 11, 2004 and became President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on January 15, 2005 on the Fatah ticket. Elected to serve until January 9, 2009, he unilaterally extended his term for another year. Rival political party Hamas announced it would not recognize the extension. Abbas was chosen as the President of the "State of Palestine" by the Palestine Liberation Organisation's Central Council on November 23, 2008, a job he had held unofficially since May 8, 2005. Abbas served as the first Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority from March to October 2003 when he resigned citing lack of support from Israel and the United States as well as "internal incitement" against his government. Before being named Prime Minister, Abbas led the PLO's Negotiations Affairs Department. While considered a quisling by many Palestinians, Abbas is frequently portrayed by Israel and the West as the face of Palestinian moderation.

Politica

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