Ramallah

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shake hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in Amman, Jordan, Oct. 13, 2023.

The Palestinian political system needs to be rebuilt on ‘national consensus,’ says political activist

The Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank is, which is the larger of the two Palestinian territories, is backed by the international community and the US. But the PA has lost much of its sway in Gaza. To explore where the PA and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas fit into the larger picture, The World's host Marco Werman speaks with Nour Odeh, a Palestinian political activist, researcher and author based in Ramallah.

The Palestinian political system needs to be rebuilt on ‘national consensus,’ says political activist
Palestinian protesters fly Palestinian flags and flags of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, DFLP, during clashes with Israeli soldiers at the entrance the Jewish settlement of Beit El, background near the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The politics of Ireland’s enduring support for Palestinians

The politics of Ireland’s enduring support for Palestinians
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stand together at the Capitol

US and Afghan presidents to meet in Washington amid troop withdrawal

US and Afghan presidents to meet in Washington amid troop withdrawal
A protester walks past the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.

'The death of American exceptionalism’: Views from abroad on US Capitol attack 

'The death of American exceptionalism’: Views from abroad on US Capitol attack 
US President-elect Joe Biden, left, who was then US Vice President, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meet at the presidential compound in Ramallah, West Bank, March 9, 2016.

PLO official: Biden is 'no savior' for Palestinians but should hold Israel 'to account'

PLO official: Biden is 'no savior' for Palestinians but should hold Israel 'to account'
People in athletic clothes warm up together on a sidewalk.

This Palestinian running group in Jerusalem fights for the ‘right to movement’ 

Palestinians have for decades had their freedom of movement curtailed around Jerusalem, with measures the Israeli authorities say are necessary for security.

This Palestinian running group in Jerusalem fights for the ‘right to movement’ 
bakery

For these vegans in the Palestinian territories, food is a form of protest

These Palestinian vegans struggle against Israeli occupation in the West Bank through animal rights and food activism.

For these vegans in the Palestinian territories, food is a form of protest
The white gated entrance to the Am'ari camp.

US cuts funds to Palestinian refugees, leaving many without essential services

“The abolition [of UNRWA] means erasing the existence of the refugee issue. We say to them that we insist on the existence of the agency as long as the issue of refugees is not resolved," says Taha al-Biss, leader of the al-Amari refugee camp in the West Bank.

US cuts funds to Palestinian refugees, leaving many without essential services
A room of people seated at a table listen to a speaker. A man stands at a podium at the front, with his back to the camera.

Can Toastmasters Ramallah stay politics-free?

Speakers are asked to avoid controversial subjects like politics, religion and race, and so far Toastmasters Ramallah has followed the custom. But it's getting harder to do that, members say.

Can Toastmasters Ramallah stay politics-free?
Yasmeen Mjalli

She started #NotYourHabibti to shine a light on sexual harassment in the Palestinian territories

The 21-year-old activist is gathering women’s stories of sexual harassment and carefully typing them out on her antiquated machine.

She started #NotYourHabibti to shine a light on sexual harassment in the Palestinian territories
Muna Assaf has been asking her reporters to talk with people on the street about catcalling. She men do it because they think they have the authority to do it.

A Palestinian radio station in the West Bank tackles catcalling, divorce and sex

Muna Assaf used to work in public health. But when she went into Besan 101.9 to pitch a radio show, the owner made her station manager.

A Palestinian radio station in the West Bank tackles catcalling, divorce and sex
Rana Samara says she became interested in painting intimate scenes, post-sex, after visiting a friend in a Palestinian refugee camp where there's little privacy. "I started questioning like, how did people make sex? How did they sleep together?”

This artist's work isn't about the Israeli occupation. She paints Palestinian bedrooms — post-sex.

Rana Samara became interested in painting intimate scenes of Palestinian life after visiting a friend in a refugee camp, and she wondered how do people have sex here?

This artist's work isn't about the Israeli occupation. She paints Palestinian bedrooms — post-sex.
Palestinian singer Qassem Al Najjar says none of his songs are about the stabbings of Israelis. He doesn't support the stabbings but he says he understands them.

In Ramallah, some of the hottest pop tunes are about stabbing Israelis

Palestinian record stores are selling CDs with titles like "The lovers of stabbing" and "Jerusalem is Burning."

In Ramallah, some of the hottest pop tunes are about stabbing Israelis
Ahmed Yousef, 25, an editor at Quds News Network, at a sweet shop in Ramallah. A photo of the Dome of the Rock, a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem, is on the wall. Tensions around the site helped spark the recent violence between Israelis and Palestinians

As violence surges between Israelis and Palestinians, Facebook pages fan the flames with graphic images

In the current wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence, young Palestinians are getting news from Facebook pages offering fast-paced updates and bloody images. Israeli sites also offer uncensored graphic scenes.

As violence surges between Israelis and Palestinians, Facebook pages fan the flames with graphic images
An 11-year-old boy lingers near the Qalandiya checkpoint as some expect fresh clashes with Israeli army.

As Gaza burns, some West Bankers are calling for a third intifada

Despite the campaign in Gaza, the West Bank has stayed relatively quiet in recent weeks. But after three Palestinians died during a massive demonstration at the Qalandiya checkpoint, some are speculating about a third intifada.

As Gaza burns, some West Bankers are calling for a third intifada