Palestinian politics

Members of the Joint list are seen during celebrations in the headquarters of Joint List in the city of Nazareth, on the night of the Israeli general elections, March 17, 2015. (Akrm Drawshi/Activestills)

What can the Joint List teach us about building Palestinian political power?

Ten years after its formation, this experiment in Palestinian unity inside Israel — and its ultimate collapse — shows the need for carefully cultivated alliances.

By Rida Abu Rass May 23, 2025

Displaced Palestinians return their homes during the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in Jabalia, in the central Gaza Strip, January 23, 2025 (Khalil Kahlout/Flash90)

A ceasefire can only bring temporary relief. It’s what comes next that counts

Any hope for Gaza's future requires not just an end to the war and 18-year siege, but accountability for Israel's crimes and Palestinian political unification.

By Mahmoud Mushtaha January 24, 2025

A convention of the Israeli Communist Party (then known as Rakah), in Tel Aviv, December 15, 1976. (National Library of Israel/Dan Hadani Archive/The Pritzker Family National Photography Collection)

A century after its founding, the Israeli Communist Party is at a crossroads

For 100 years, Maki has been the leading force for Jewish-Palestinian equality in Israeli politics, yet it has failed to unite Arab and Jewish workers into a viable movement. Was it doomed from the start?

By Joel Beinin July 28, 2023

Latest

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 June 12, 2019

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

Israeli police fire tear gas at protesting Palestinian youths in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, October 6, 2015. (Flash90)

Why the whole region is looking at Palestine’s youth

Young Palestinians play an important role in the future of the region, and as their anger rises, so do the chances of renewed uprisings in the Arab world. By Ronit Marzan Approximately 1.4 million young people between the ages of 15-29 live in the West Bank and Gaza today, making up 30 percent of the…

By +972 Magazine March 29, 2017

File photo of Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza City. (Wissam Nassar/Flash90)

Diplomacy or armed struggle? Palestinian factions look ahead

Against the backdrop of a crisis of governance in Palestine and the brewing battle of succession, Palestinian Islamic Jihad is proposing a return to armed struggle. But is that what the Palestinian people want? By Ronit Marzan On October 21 of this year, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader Ramadan Shalah gave a speech marking 29 years…

By +972 Magazine November 4, 2016

Israeli police carry away documents and computers from offices of the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement, November 17, 2015. (Photo by Israel Police Spokesperson)

The real danger of outlawing Palestinian political movements

Banning and persecuting political groups like the Islamic Movement and Balad has the effect of disengaging Palestinian citizens of Israel from the state and its political system. That is very, very dangerous. The Israeli government has done very few things that worry me more than its ongoing assault on the country’s Palestinian citizens’ political representation.…

By Noam Sheizaf November 18, 2015

A microcosm of ‘the Cause,’ Land Day at Qalandia falls flat

What could have been an inspiring display of purposeful collective action turned out to be the opposite. The Land Day commemoration at Qalandia checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem was indicative of the state of the Palestinian cause, as supporters of different factions turned on each other in a ferocious rumble and the people…

By Omar H. Rahman March 30, 2012

A Palestinian stakes a giant flag in front of the Separation Wall in the village of Bi'lin with a Jewish settlement in the background. (photo: Omar Rahman)

PLO committee agrees to push for landmark elections

With the Palestinian political horizon looking grim, reconciliation, elections and reform may be the only hope. News of a major development in Palestinian politics was reached today in Cairo between leaders of various Palestinian factions. A committee established by the reconciliation agreement signed in May 2011 to advance PLO reform has agreed to push for…

By Omar H. Rahman February 26, 2012

Mahmoud Abbas (photo: Olivier Pacteau / flickr CC BY 2.0)

Palestinian leaders reinforce Fatah-Hamas reconciliation in Qatar

Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Meshaal sign agreement in Qatar on Palestinian reconciliation. Leaders of the two main Palestinian political parties, Fatah and Hamas, signed an agreement in Qatar on Monday, reinforcing efforts at reconciliation and reform. Reports from Qatar say that current Palestinian Authority President and Chairman of the PLO, Mahmoud Abbas, will also be…

By Omar H. Rahman February 6, 2012

Omar’s beautiful, dark, twisted—political fantasy

Last night a bizarre answer to a reasonable question popped into my head. And all glory be to the blog, I am able to compose this little articulation-of-no-consequence knowing clear well that it will be published, even if it is just by me. It all began after an intense evening of ‘trivia-night’ at a local…

By Omar H. Rahman October 25, 2011