The Palestinian Authority (PA) administers segments of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and posits itself as the rightful government for a prospective Palestinian state. Its president, Mahmoud Abbas, in office since 2005, recently delivered a video address to the U.N. General Assembly, accusing Israel of “war crimes.” Israeli officials, however, have long criticized the PA for alleged mismanagement and for fostering hostility toward Israel. While largely symbolic of Palestinian self-determination, the recognition of a Palestinian state has deepened Israel’s diplomatic isolation.
A deep and long-standing feud characterizes the relationship between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, who are rivals for leadership among the Palestinian people. This rivalry was heightened after Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, narrowly defeating Abbas’s Fatah party. The following year, Hamas violently expelled the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority from the Gaza Strip, establishing full control over the territory.
Source: www.nytimes.com