Tag: West Bank

Jordan

Anticipate Greater Jordanian Role in West Bank

Michael Sharnoff

JORDAN-PALESTINIAN-DIPLOMACY

Published in Your Middle East.

The recent resignation announcement by Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah – who had served just two weeks – struck a humiliating blow to President Mahmoud Abbas and raises serious questions about the competence of governance and the future of the Palestinian question. No one has been tapped to replace Hamdallah, although it is likely to be one of the two Deputy Prime Ministers Ziad Abu Amr or Mohammed Mustafa. Continue reading “Anticipate Greater Jordanian Role in West Bank” →

Links

September 5-10, 2012 Links

Michael Sharnoff

I wanted to focus specifically on the recent events in Israel and the West Bank. For economic reasons, most Palestinian protestors are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad although some have called for President Mahmoud Abbas to step down. Some analysts surmise that the “Arab Spring” has now reached the West Bank. The immediate anger is directed against Palestinian leaders. However it remains to be seen if they can satisfy protestor demands through economic incentives like the Gulf regimes or if they will divert attention toward Israel and incite a third intifada.

“Palestinians Seek to Amend Economic Accord with Israel” Reuters
“We Are Not Scared: Mahmoud Abbas Tries To Quell A Palestinian Arab Spring” IBT
“Fayyad: Protests Prove PA Committed To Freedom of Expression” Ma’an News
“Mofaz: Bi-National State More Threatening Than Iran” The Jerusalem Post
“Palestinian Price Protest Turns Violent in West Bank” Reuters
“Palestinians Blame Israel for Dire Economic Situation in West Bank” Israel Hayom
“Ramallah Protestors Call on Abbas to Resign” Ma’an News

Weekend Thinking

Weekend Thinking: The DNC and West Bank

Michael Sharnoff

The third and final day of the Democratic National Convention concluded yesterday evening with a speech by incumbent President Barack Obama. The economy and job creation were the themes of Obama’s speech along with Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton. More than 20 million Americans are unemployed and more than 40 million rely on Food Stamps. It comes as no surprise that this is the leading  issue for voters. Foreign policy, the war in Afghanistan and the global threat of Al-Qaeda was barely mentioned. Continue reading “Weekend Thinking: The DNC and West Bank” →

Arab League

Arab League Foreign Minister Conference

Michael Sharnoff

Yesterday, the Arab League foreign minister conference in Cairo discussed Palestinian affairs, the Syrian Civil War and Iran.

Al-Quds reports Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas acknowledging that a “Palestinian Spring” is underway. Recently, Palestinians in the West Bank have protested against the Palestinian Authority’s inability to make food and living costs more affordable. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad also weighed in on this issue, asserting that the PA has improved the standard of living in spite of overall Israeli control of the West Bank. Continue reading “Arab League Foreign Minister Conference” →

Palestinians

Palestinian Self-Immolation

Michael Sharnoff

Al-Ahram reports that a Gazan teen unable to find employment and care for his family set himself on fire in Gaza’s main hospital last Thursday. He succumbed to his wounds Sunday evening. The teen’s father said he had appealed to the Hamas government in Gaza and the West Bank Palestinian Authority to find work, but received no response. Continue reading “Palestinian Self-Immolation” →

Uncategorized

New Issue From The Palestine-Israel Journal

Michael Sharnoff

The Palestine-Israel Journal, an independent quarterly publication run by Israelis and Palestinians in Jerusalem, has a new issue which examines the dramatic challenges facing Israeli and Palestinian civil society in 2012.

I am thrilled that my article which explores the role of nonviolent Palestinian third parties as an alternative to Fatah and Hamas is featured in the journal. I will post the full text when it becomes available.

Gaza

Will Gaza Declare Independence?

Michael Sharnoff

There is growing evidence that Hamas in Gaza will unilaterally declare its independence, and disengage from Israel and the West Bank (at least for the time being). Continue reading “Will Gaza Declare Independence?” →

Palestinians

Article Review

Michael Sharnoff

Published in American Diplomacy on June 20, 2012.

Palestinian Attitudes Toward Israel
by Dr. Michael Sharnoff
http://www.fpri.org/enotes/2012/201205.sharnoff.palestinian-attitudes-israel.html
Reviewed by Norvell B DeAtkine

The writer, a recent graduate of King’s College, London, writing for the Foreign Policy Research Institute, surveys Palestinian attitudes from the standpoint of the secularists, Hamas, Fatah, and the general public toward the state of Israel. In general he finds that Palestinians of all categories embrace “popular, non-violent resistance.” That attitude leads to demonstrations, hunger strikes, boycotts, and sanctions. Sharnoff posits that billionaire Munib al-Masri speaks for the secularists in advocating a peace with Israel in return for a state in the West Bank and Jerusalem as its capitol. Interviewing a respected moderate Islamist and professor at a Palestinian university, the writer was told that the ‘Arab Spring” has emboldened Islamist radicals and that American inaction in promoting moderate Islamists constituted a missed opportunity. Moreover, in spite of corruption and authoritarianism, which characterizes the Palestinian leadership, any uprising among the Palestinians will be directed at Israel, not the Palestinian leadership. Continue reading “Article Review” →