fatah

Omar Odeh helped establish a follow up committee dealing with the affairs of Palestinian refugees from Syria who fled to Gaza. (Mohammed Al-Hajjar)

Displaced again: Palestinian refugees from Syria struggle to survive in Gaza

With surging unemployment rates and high rents, Palestinian refugees who fled the Syrian war for Gaza are struggling to climb out of poverty. Like many Gazans, they hope to leave the strip in search of a better life. By Amjad Yaghi In mid-2012, Egyptian police arrested Omar Odeh for violating the conditions of his residence permit and overstaying his…

By +972 Magazine August 21, 2019

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas presides over a meeting of the Palestinian government in Ramallah, West Bank, on April 29, 2019. (Flash90)

The brewing war to succeed Mahmoud Abbas

The jockeying for the post-Abbas leadership is taking shape in a moment of political, economic, and internal crisis for the beleaguered Palestinian government. By Daoud Kuttab It is rare in Palestinian politics that a president follows a prime minister. This is what happened this week, when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas echoed the words of his…

By +972 Magazine June 12, 2019

A young Palestinian boy and girl stand near a painted mural in Balata Refugee Camp in the West Bank city of Nablus. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

‘In Balata camp, every single child suffers from psychological problems’

Yafa Cultural Center is one of the few places left for Palestinian children from Balata refugee camp to cope with the violence they witness on a daily basis. With funding running low, the center is at risk of closing. When the door opens, I am surprised to see a six or seven-year-old boy on the other…

By Rami Younis February 11, 2019

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Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas delivers a speech after visiting the grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, during a ceremony to mark the anniversary of Arafat's death, November 11, 2018, Ramallah. (Flash90)

Mahmoud Abbas and the veneer of democracy

Abbas’ decision to dissolve the parliament and hold elections within half a year is an attempt to present a friendlier, more democratic face to Palestinians in the West Bank, many of whom lost faith in their leader long ago. By Menachem Klein Mahmoud Abbas’ decision last week to dissolve the Palestinian parliament and hold elections within half a year are meant…

By +972 Magazine December 25, 2018

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman attend a special plenary memorial for the late, former minister, Rehavam Ze'evi Gandi, at the Knesset, on October 24, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Netanyahu is stuck with Hamas, and he likes it that way

Netanyahu understands that keeping Hamas in power comes at a heavy political price. But as long as it thwarts the possibility of a Palestinian state, it’s worth it for him. By Meron Rapoport Weak. Giving into to terror. Those were the words Avigdor Liberman used to describe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his press conference…

By +972 Magazine November 15, 2018

Palestinian protesters against negotiations with the Israeli government clash with Palestinian riot police on August 28, 2013, after protesters were banned from approaching Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. (Issam Rimawi/Flash90)

Palestinian Authority, Hamas use torture to silence dissent, report finds

A new report by Human Rights Watch documents dozens of cases whereby the Palestinian authorities in both the West Bank and Gaza use arbitrary arrest and torture to repress critics. A new Human Rights Watch (HRW) investigation published Tuesday draws on 86 cases of arbitrary arrest, abuse, and torture by Fatah and Hamas authorities in the West Bank…

By Samer Badawi October 23, 2018

Palestinian protesters evacuate a fellow demonstrator who was shot by an Israeli sniper during the Great Return March protest, east of Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, April 6, 2018. (Mohammed Zaanoun/Activestills.org)

‘Israel’s nightmare? Mass nonviolent protest on the Gaza border’

Dr. Khalil Shikaki, director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research and one of the most well-respected Palestinian analysts, talks about the strategy of the Gaza return march and what to expect in the coming weeks. By Meron Rapoport Gaza’s “Great Return March” has the potential to change the Palestinians’ strategy. If Hamas can ensure…

By +972 Magazine April 9, 2018

Thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel take part in the March of Return, in the lands of the destroyed village of Hadatha, near Tiberias, April 23, 2015. (photo: Omar Sameer/Activestills.org)

Now is the time for one staters to unite and build a movement

Trump’s Jerusalem declaration provides those who believe in one democratic state across Israel-Palestine a golden opportunity. Now is our chance to promote a vision of peace that could save the future generations from endless bloodshed. By Awad Abdelfattah In declaring Jerusalem the official capital of Israel last month, President Trump dealt a knock-out blow to the illusion…

By +972 Magazine January 1, 2018

Clashes erupt between Israeli police and Palestinians in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras el Amud, outside Jerusalem's Old City, following Friday prayers on July 21, 2017. (Hadas Parush/FLASH90)

Embassy move is an act of humiliation against Abbas

It is also hard to see the Palestinian president agreeing to participate in negotiations headed by an American president who humiliated him so. By Elhanan Miller In the zero-sum game of Palestinian politics, every attack on Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority is interpreted as aiding his ideological rivals in Hamas. Donald Trump’s recognition of…

By +972 Magazine December 11, 2017

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attends a PLO executive committee meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 22, 2015. (Flash90)

Palestinian reconciliation could work this time. Israel must support it

The current Palestinian reconciliation agreement looks like it could actually hold, largely due to regional and internal changes over the past few years. What does this bode for the peace process? A former minister in the Palestinian government explains. By Ashraf al-Ajrami This is not the first time the two large Palestinian political movements, Fatah…

By +972 Magazine October 15, 2017

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the 72nd session of United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters, New York. (Amir Levy/Flash90)

Give the people what they want: Palestinians take a step toward unity

With Russian involvement, American support, and Israel’s tacit agreement, the Palestinians are taking active steps toward national reconciliation. By Menachem Klein While all eyes were on the horrific massacre in Las Vegas on Monday, an interesting development took place in the Gaza, whose magnitude goes beyond reconciliation between the rival Fatah and Hamas factions. As opposed to previous…

By +972 Magazine October 3, 2017

Palestinian security forces in Bethlehem. (Photo by Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Palestinian journalists the latest victim of Hamas-Fatah rivalry

Fatah-affiliated security forces arrest five journalists in the West Bank; Hamas forces are holding at least one journalist in Gaza. Palestinian rights groups demand both parties keep journalists out of their political rivalry. Palestinian Authority security services arrested five Palestinian journalists in the West Bank Tuesday night in what appears to be a worrying manifestation…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man August 9, 2017

Fatah lawmaker Mohammed Dahlan speaks to the press, Ramallah, December 16, 2006. (Michal Fattal/Flash90)

Is Abbas’ arch-rival the answer to Gaza’s problems?

A new leaked document reveals a new plan to solve the crisis in Gaza: appointing Mohammad Dahlan, once responsible for crushing Hamas and now Mahmoud Abbas’ greatest threat, to run the besieged Strip. By Elhanan Miller In the beginning of June, former Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan met with representatives of the Egyptian government and leaders…

By +972 Magazine June 29, 2017