The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed Hussein al-Sheikh as Vice Chairman of the PLO leadership, says Wasel Abu Yousef, a member of the organization's executive committee.
The decision can position al-Sheikh as a potential successor to veteran leader Abbas.
The 89-year-old leader has been in power since 2005. The mandate period was supposed to be four years, but despite repeated pressure, no elections have been held since then. Opinion polls in recent years have shown that confidence in Abbas and his party Fatah has plummeted.
PLO is the internationally recognized organization for Palestinians and has oversight over the West-backed Palestinian Authority, which has limited autonomy in less than half of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Abbas established the vice presidential post during a convention held in Ramallah on the West Bank last week.
