The term 'ARAFAT's Successor' refers to Mahmoud Abbas, who was elected as the President of the Palestinian National Authority in 2005. He succeeded Yasser ARAFAT, who had been the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization since 1969 and the first President of the Palestinian National Authority from 1996 until his death in 2004. Abbas is a member of the Fatah party and has served as the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization since 2004.