The Middle-East Observer
Mahmoud Abbas
Abbas’s Police State
Jonathan Schanzer argues that the West Bank, under President Mahmoud Abbas’s authority, is becoming a police state. His allegations are based primarily on a number of crackdowns on free speech, mainly journalists, newspapers and TV stations that have been critical of president Abbas in the last few years. All evidence seems to tell us that these crackdowns … Continue reading
Palestinian Authority, battling debt crisis, raises taxes
The Palestinian Authority has approuved a plan to rise income tax to 20% in order to tackle its debt problem. The Palestinian Authority depends heavily on foreign aid by the United States, the European Union and other Arab states to pay the salaries of their public sector workers. In response to President Mahmoud Abbas quest … Continue reading
Palestinian ‘freedom committee’ downs tools in protest
On Wednesday the Committee on Civil Liberties, a Palestinian committee on freedom of movement and expression decided to suspend its work in Gaza. The committee is hereby protesting the fact that Fatah and Hamas have so far not been able to implement the committees’ recommendations. One of those was a prisoner swap between the two … Continue reading
Analysis: Hamas juggles political need with founding principles
Hamas has recently changed its ideological and political views. Founded with strong religious ideological roots, it has recently been obliged to filter its attitudes to match political changes. Naji Shurrab, a professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza says ”Hamas is looking for international and regional legitimacy. It knows that the gate to this legitimacy is its political attitudes and so … Continue reading
Analysis: Unity Deal Brings Risks for Abbas and Israel
The final reconciliation deal that was signed on Monday between the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas and the Islamist movement Hamas brings risks for the peace talks between Israel and Palestine, and for the relations that the Palestinian authority has with other foreign countries. The two leaders said that they would announce a full unity … Continue reading
Analysis: After Doha deal, challenges remain to Hamas- Fatah unity
Though the Doha declaration is an important step in the process of national reconciliation within Palestinian society, much remains to be achieved and many challenges are still ahead. “What happened in Doha is an expression of good intentions and is a good step, but the reconciliation file is thick and will not be resolved quickly,” an analyst … Continue reading
Abbas officially named to head interim Palestinian govt
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal signed the “Doha Declaration” on Monday, which stipulates that Abbas will lead a unity government to oversee the upcoming Palestinian elections. His ”national consensus government will be made up of independents and technocrats and they will be responsible for overseeing the elections.” Both parliamentary and presidential elections are … Continue reading
Netanyahu to Abbas: ‘You Can’t Have it Both Ways’
Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Palestinian Authority’s leader Mahmoud Abbas that reconciliation with Hamas will take Israel away from its willingness to talk for peace. Netanyahu said “the Palestinian Authority must choose between an alliance with Hamas and peace with Israel.” However, Netanyahu’s resistance to the formation of a Fatah-Hamas unity cabinet is based on Hamas’s … Continue reading
If Israel is an ally, press them for peace, Abbas urges Canada
Mahmoud Abbas is looking to Israel’s new best friend; Canada, to pressure Israel into peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. Yesterday, Canada’s Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird were meeting with Mr. Abbas and his adviser Majdi al-Khaldi in Ramallah before moving on to Jerusalem to meet with Benjamin Nethanyahu and … Continue reading
Opinion: “The People Are Suffocating”: West Bank Economy Struggles Under Pressure From U.S. Congress
A report from the streets of Ramallah by Karl Vick. Palestinians say they are suffering from a loss in income, mainly caused by the still delayed $147 million on promised aid from the US. Some Republican members in the House of Representatives seem to punish the moderate Palestinian Authority for their application for membership of … Continue reading
Report: Amman talks to continue until March
After five meetings between Israeli and Palestinian representatives in Amman, and despite low expectations from both sides on the outcome of the negotiations, the peace talks will continue until March though they were supposed to end on January 26. ”The Palestinian Authority decided to continue talks with Israel, being conducted by Saeb Erekat and Prime Minister [Binyamin Netanyahu]‘s … Continue reading
Opinion: The Palestinian Campaign to Delegitimize Israel
Although a new series of negotiations have started between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, Palestinians are still trying to out-maneuver Israel in the international arena. Though last year’s attempt to gain full UN membership for a sovereign state of Palestine failed, Abbas is now regrouping, visiting countries that may support the bid and trying new … Continue reading
Interview: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
President Mahmoud Abbas says the response of Israel to the Palestinian proposal on borders and security is “worthless”. Abbas also says the purpose of his European tour is to look at different routes in case the current talks between negotiators fail. Abbas said “We want to live side-by-side with Israel, but we want to isolate Israeli … Continue reading
Analysis: Can Palestinian Fatah win the election in May without Pres. Abbas at the helm?
Though they are likely to be postponed as a result of the slow implementation of the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas, the date for Palestinian elections has been set for May 4, 2012. But as President Mahmoud Abbas told the Fatah Central Committee he is ready to retire, the party is in an urgent … Continue reading
Hamas, Fatah report progress as leaders spar
Following a meeting between Fatah and Hamas officials on Saturday in Gaza City, both sides said there was progress in the implementation of the reconciliation agreement. The presidential compound in Gaza will be return to Fatah and the dispute concerning the alleged refusal by Hamas to allow entry of Fatah officials into Gaza was overcome. However, Hamas … Continue reading
Netanyahu to unveil political plan in March?
Following a third meeting between Israeli and Palestinian envoys in Amman, both sides have agreed to meet again for a fourth time on January 25th, a day before the Quartet’s deadline. Before the last meeting, Israeli officials said they would try to arrange a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President … Continue reading
In gesture to Fatah, Hamas to return Abbas’s Gaza home
In gesture to Fatah, Hamas to return Abbas’s Gaza home
Israel, PLO to meet Saturday
Representative from the PLO and Israel will meet for the third time in Amman this saturday as exploratory discussions continue. The Quartet, which brought the two sides to Amman, is hoping these discussions will lead to a new round of peace negotiations. Palestinian Authority President Abbas has downplayed the outcome of these talks and has … Continue reading
Abbas says Israel submitted no new proposals in exploratory talks with Palestinians
Following two meetings between Israeli and Palestinian officials after months with no direct negotiations, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that Israel had made no new proposals over how formal peace talks could be resumed. Two more meetings are set. “Until now, there is nothing new in the dialogue that is going on in Amman,” Abbas … Continue reading
Hamas popularity up but Fatah still ahead: poll
Hamas popularity up but Fatah still ahead: poll
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