mahmoud abbas

Why Hamas is staying out of Israel’s fight with Islamic Jihad

Israeli security and political coordination with Hamas has served mutual interests for many years. Now Hamas is hoping to stay out of the current fighting in order to potentially expand its political power in the West Bank.

By Ami Kaufman and Amjad Iraqi November 13, 2019

Ishaq Bar-Moshe in Iraq. (Courtesy of Bar Moshe's family)

The Mizrahi author whose book Mahmoud Abbas wants to distribute

Ishaq Bar-Moshe started writing books in Arabic two decades after he emigrated from Iraq to Israel. It was a radical choice, given that the language aroused deep antipathy in Israel — but Bar-Moshe was undeterred. By Naomi Niddam A few weeks ago, a representative from the office of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called Idit Shemer, an…

By +972 Magazine and Ami Kaufman November 8, 2019

Palestinians make their way through an Israeli checkpoint to attend the first Friday prayer of Ramadan in Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, near the West Bank city of Bethlehem May 10, 2019. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90)

An election between annexationists and pro-occupation generals

Palestinians have no say over whether they will be ruled by messianic religious zealots or by generals who previously presided over the occupation. On September 17, Israelis will return to the polls for round two of an election cycle that failed to determine an outcome in April, this time hoping for a different result. While…

By Omar H. Rahman September 16, 2019

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Democratic Union party leaders Ehud Barak, Stav Shaffir and Nitzan Horowitz hold a press conference launching their campaign ahead of the Knesset elections. Tel Aviv, August 12, 2019 (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Meretz is the last Jewish anti-occupation party. But for how long?

As Israel’s center-left and centrist parties have dropped the topic of the occupation over the years, Meretz has remained the sole Jewish party to emphasize ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But can it continue to hold out amidst running mate Ehud Barak’s talk of annexation? By Meron Rapoport Meretz has seen its fair share of criticism…

By +972 Magazine September 6, 2019

Palestinians in Ramallah protesting the U.S.-led economic workshop, to be held in Bahrain as part of the Trump administration's "Deal of the Century" plan for ending the conflict, June 15, 2019. (Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org)

Palestinians take to the streets to protest Bahrain workshop, Trump peace plan

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declares major protests across the occupied Palestinian territories next week to coincide with the Bahrain workshop. By Ahmad Al-Bazz Dozens of Palestinian activists and political representatives marched against the U.S. “Deal of the Century” and the upcoming Bahrain workshop in Ramallah city center on Saturday. Protesters held Palestinian flags and signs…

By Activestills June 17, 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

Yahya Sinwar, new leader of Hamas, inspects the border with Egypt from thr city of Rafah, July 6, 2017. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

The Israeli right is now openly saying it wants to keep Hamas in power

As the latest round of fighting in Gaza and southern Israel died down, it became clear that keeping Hamas in power has become a central tenet of the Israeli right. By Meron Rapoport The idea that Hamas is an Israeli creation is nearly as old as Hamas itself. Researchers, journalists, high-ranking Israeli military and government officials…

By +972 Magazine May 12, 2019

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

Members of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, take part in a rally ahead of the 30th anniversary of the movement's founding on December 5, 2017, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

To maintain occupation, Israel will need to bolster Hamas in Gaza

While Egypt and the UN have their own plans to solve the crisis in Gaza, both have one thing common: strengthening Hamas at the expense of the Palestinian Authority. In order to maintain its hold on the West Bank, Israel will prefer the option that will give Hamas autonomy. By Menachem Klein As the latest round of…

By +972 Magazine August 10, 2018

An Israeli soldier checks women's IDs, Qalandiya checkpoint, West Bank, August 20, 2010. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

How one of Palestine’s preeminent journalists lost hope for peace

Nasser Laham, the editor-in-chief of Palestine’s biggest independent media outlet, used to be an ardent supporter Abbas and the peace process. But after decades of failed attempts, something inside him changed. Today he believes Palestinians must stop talking about peace. ‘We’ll wait a thousand years, the Israelis will be defeated. What’s the hurry?’ By Meron Rapoport…

By +972 Magazine July 8, 2018

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas seen upon his release from a hospital in Ramallah in the West Bank on May 28, 2018. (Flash90)

Abbas’ sanctions on Gaza could soon become Israel’s war

The Palestinian Authority’s attempts to destroy Gaza’s economy could end up dragging Israel into military conflict. By Elhanan Miller While the Israeli government struggles to solve the problem of “burning kites” being sent from the Gaza Strip, it appears that the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah has found a more effective way to harm Hamas’ funding: causing…

By +972 Magazine June 29, 2018

Palestinians in Ramallah demonstrate against the Palestinian Authority's sanctions on Gaza, June 13, 2018. (ارفعوا العقوبات)

The night the Palestinian Authority showed us whose side it is on

The violence meted out by PA forces against Palestinian demonstrators Wednesday night was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. When it was all over, one thing became clear: the PA isn’t a subcontractor of the occupation, they are in lock step. Having just witnessed her friend’s arrest, and frustrated by her failure to prevent it, a young…

By Rami Younis June 14, 2018