Why did Mahmoud Abbas resign as Palestinian prime minister in 2003?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat, leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), wearing the keffiyeh, 1996.

Mahmoud Abbas was installed as the first Palestinian prime minister in 2003 following intense international pressure to establish new leadership, as Yasser Arafat was viewed by the United States and Israel as an impediment to peace.21

Abbas resigned from the position only months later, claiming that his authority and efforts had been undermined by Arafat, Israel, and the United States. During his brief tenure, Abbas had sought to denounce terrorism, end the second intifada, and consolidate Palestinian armed forces under a single authority.21