Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, says he is no longer interested in remaining in office.

Is Abbas manoeuvring, fed up, or just aiming for a face saving exit after failing at the job? Has he turned the table on his Western allies after they let him down?

Who will replace him? And is he really leaving or is this just a tactical move?

Inside Story discusses with guests Geoffrey Aronson, the executive director of the Washington DC based foundation for Middle East peace, Nabil Shaath, a senior Fatah official, and Diana Buttu, the political analyst and former legal adviser to the PLO.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Sunday, November 8, 2009.