The head of the Palestinian Authority has appointed his successor “in case of vacancy”. Mahmoud Abbas is 89 years old

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree regarding a succession plan “in case of vacancy” of the position, the WAFA agency reported on Sunday, Agerpres reports.

The move paves the way for the temporary assumption of power by Abbas's deputy, Hussein al-Sheikh, the Palestinian Authority said.

According to the decree, al-Sheikh, aged 64, would lead the Palestinian Authority for a period of up to 90 days in the event that Abbas could no longer fulfill his duties. In this interval, presidential elections will have to be organized.

The same provisions would apply in the case of Abbas' resignation, although such a decision is not currently expected. Al-Sheikh, a close associate of Abbas, was named vice president after the post was created in April.

Abbas, 89, succeeded Yasser Arafat, founder of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), as president in 2005 after winning that year's election – the last presidential vote held in the Palestinian territories.

Abbas and his Fatah movement are more moderate than the Islamist movement Hamas, which took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, ousting Fatah.

The Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas, exercises limited self-government in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, but has no authority over Israel's military decisions or the expansion of Jewish settlements in the territory, which continues under the current Israeli government.