Mahmoud Abbas

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
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 child wearing a red short-sleaved shirt is shown looking into a bombed out and charred card.

Israel-Hamas hostilities continue into 10th day

Israel-Hamas hostilities continue into 10th day
Palestinian residents of the village of Fasayil in the Jordan Valley sit together for an afternoon tea break.

Israeli plans for annexation weigh heavily on Jordan Valley residents

Israeli plans for annexation weigh heavily on Jordan Valley residents
Palestinians watch a television broadcasting the announcement of Middle East peace plan by US President Donald Trump, in the southern Gaza Strip on Jan. 28, 2020.

Trump unveiled his Middle East peace plan. This Palestinian analyst says it's a 'scam.'

Trump unveiled his Middle East peace plan. This Palestinian analyst says it's a 'scam.'
palestinian

Among young Palestinians, growing alienation from political leaders

As the daily scene on the border shows, young Palestinians are increasingly beyond reach, put off by a four-year stalemate in peace talks with Israel and little progress toward healing internal rifts.

Among young Palestinians, growing alienation from political leaders
palestine

Palestinian officials rebuke Trump threat to block aid

"We pay the Palestinians HUNDRED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year and get no appreciation or respect," Trump tweeted. "With the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?"

Palestinian officials rebuke Trump threat to block aid
Palestinians react during a protest against Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Dec. 7, 2017.

Hamas calls for Palestinian uprising in response to Trump's Jerusalem plan

The Islamist group Hamas urged Palestinians on Thursday to abandon peace efforts and launch a new uprising against Israel in response to US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as its capital.

Hamas calls for Palestinian uprising in response to Trump's Jerusalem plan
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement to the media in Jerusalem following a terrorist attack on a West Jerusalem synagogue on November 18, 2014.

Palestinians are anxious as Israel vows a ‘strong response’ to the Jerusalem attack

After a violent attack on a West Jerusalem synagogue that killed four worshippers on Tuesday, Israelis are on edge. But Palestinians are also worried about how Israel will retaliate for this attack and others that have rocked Jerusalem in recent weeks.

Palestinians are anxious as Israel vows a ‘strong response’ to the Jerusalem attack
Israeli emergency personnel carry the body of a victim from the scene of an attack at a Jerusalem synagogue on November 18, 2014.

Palestinians kill Israeli worshippers during prayers at a Jerusalem synagogue

Two Palestinian men armed with meat cleavers and firearms killed four worshippers at a synagogue in West Jersualem on Tuesday. While it was the deadliest attack of its kind in the city since 2008, it was also yet another sign of rising violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Palestinians kill Israeli worshippers during prayers at a Jerusalem synagogue
A Palestinian man prays near Israeli police during Friday prayers in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Wadi al-Joz on October 31, 2014. Israeli police declared an age limit on Friday for Palestinians wanting to enter the Old City, only allowing males ab

Reopening holy sites for Muslims fails to ease tensions in Jerusalem

The rare closing of Jerusalem's Temple Mount — or Noble Sanctuary to Muslims — lasted only a day. But anger over the closure and the shooting of a Palestinian suspecting of killing a Jewish activist became a "day of rage," with Palestinians scuffling with Israeli security forces in the city and across the West Bank.

Reopening holy sites for Muslims fails to ease tensions in Jerusalem
Hamas Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh

It was exhaustion, more than a real desire for peace, that fueled the latest cease-fire in Gaza

Israel and Hamas fought to a stand-still in Gaza in their latest conflict. Neither side won, but neither side was defeated either. And, in the end, Israel may regret that the whole conflict may lead to a stronger Palestine.

It was exhaustion, more than a real desire for peace, that fueled the latest cease-fire in Gaza
Israeli soldiers travel atop tanks outside the Gaza Strip July 18, 2014. Israel stepped up its land offensive in Gaza with artillery, tanks and gunboats on Friday and declared it could "significantly widen" an operation Palestinian officials said was kill

Israel presses ahead with ground attack on Gaza Strip

The situation in Gaza is open-ended, with only the Israelis knowing when they will have achieved their objectives and end their ground invasion. But, regardless, the current situation presents the best opportunity in years for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to assert himself.

Israel presses ahead with ground attack on Gaza Strip
American Studies professor Mohammed Dajani took a group of Palestinian students on a trip to Auschwitz in March, 2014.

It may be taboo, but some Palestinians are rethinking their views toward the Holocaust

In the Arab world, the Holocaust is usually viewed with suspicion. But, recently, some Palestinians have started to accept the Holocaust as a grave crime against the Jewish population of Europe. And on Monday, the Palestinian leader joined that group.

It may be taboo, but some Palestinians are rethinking their views toward the Holocaust
Senior Fatah official Azzam Al-Ahmed, left, head of the Hamas government Ismail Haniyeh, center, and senior Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouq announce a reconciliation agreement in Gaza City April 23, 2014.

Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah say they want to give peace a chance — with each other

The Palestinian Territories have been divided for years, with more extreme Hamas governing the Gaza Strip and more moderate Fatah ruling in the West Bank. But Wednesday, the two sides agreed to a power-sharing agreement. But it may be another setback for peace with Israel.

Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah say they want to give peace a chance — with each other