The President of the State of Palestine is the head of the State of Palestine. Yasser Arafat became the first titular President of the State of Palestine in 1989, one year after proclamation of independence. The title was originally titular, in parallel with the de facto title President of the Palestinian National Authority. Both functions were held by Yasser Arafat from 1994 and continued until his death in November 2004, and was continued by his successor Mahmoud Abbas. In January 2005, the PLO Central Council asked Abbas to perform the duties of the President of the State of Palestine. In November 2008, the PLO Central Council approved the continuation of Abbas's function as President of the State of Palestine. Since 2013, the title President of the State of Palestine became the sole ti