This article provides an overview of the Palestinian Authority (PA), a key entity in Palestinian governance. The PA administers portions of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and considers itself the legitimate government for a future Palestinian state. Its current president, Mahmoud Abbas, 89, has been in office since 2005. During a recent address to the U.N. General Assembly, President Abbas stated that Israel engaged in actions he characterized as “war crimes” in Gaza.
Israeli officials have voiced concerns regarding the PA’s governance, accusing it of mismanagement and fostering hostility towards Israel, with some officials describing the organization as “corrupt.” The article also notes that while recognition of a Palestinian state is often a symbolic act supporting Palestinian self-determination, it can be viewed as influencing Israel’s diplomatic standing.
A significant aspect of the PA’s context is its deep-seated rivalry with Hamas for the leadership of the Palestinian people. This historical division intensified in 2007 when Hamas, after winning the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, forcibly removed the Fatah-dominated PA from the Gaza Strip, establishing full control there.
Source: www.nytimes.com