PALESTINE
Palestinians control the West Bank and Gaza
Until this past summer the political party of Fatah (Palestinian Liberation Organization), which was previously run by Yasser Arafat, had control over the West Bank and Gaza. Fatah's name was taken from the name of the Palestinian Liberation Movement Harakat Tahrir Filistin. This was founded by Arafat in the 1950's and came out into the open in 1965. With Arafats strong leadership it became one of the strongest Palestinian factions which has continued through today. Yasser Arafat died in 2004 and Mahmoud Abbas became the new leader of the Fatah (PLO) party.
Hamas is a more radical political (and religious) group in Palestine who is supported by the Iranian government. Hamas does not want peace talks with the Israeli government rather they call for a complete destruction of the Israeli state. (BBC article with more information about Hamas)
The Fatah (PLO) party had been in control of the West Bank and Gaza. In the past few years the more radical Islamic party Hamas has gained support in the region due to their beliefs in the complete destruction of Israel and their ability to provide municipal services more efficiently than Fatah. In 2006 Hamas won a parliamentary majority in the elections and causes Prime Minister Abbas to lose some creadablility. Hamas won 76 out of 132 seats. Hamas is viewed as a terrorist organization by Israel, the UN, and the US and because of this aid sent to the region was cut off when Hamas won the electon. This past June (2007) the Hamas party made a large step forward in their goals by taking control over Gaza. This has caused internal problems in the Palestinian state. Not only are the Palestinians fighting against Israel but they are also fighting internally between Hamas supporters and Fatah supporters. In recent months their have been killings in Gaza of Palestinians by Hamas supporters.
ISRAEL
Parliamentary government
2 major political parties in the government Kadima party and Likud party
Kadima (labor)- is the reform party in Israel. They are the party in control of Parliament right now. The Kadima party views the occupied lands from the 1967 war as a negotiating tool. In 2000 the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak met with Palestinian Prime Minister Yasser Arafat and President Clinton for peace talks. Israel offered Arafat return of some occupied lands and portion of Jerusalem if they agreed on peace. Arafat turned this offer down and peace was not made. Soon after these Camp David talks the second Intifada began.
Likud party- is the conservative, hard-line political party in Israel. They are the more militant party in Israel. The Likud party generally believes that the occupied lands from the 1967 war should not be used as a negotiation tool with the Palestinians. Many in the party believe it should be used to build settlements to expand Israel.
Current Events
These two nations have been fighting since the creation of the Israeli state 1948. The largest events to take place in this conflict in the Middle East during recent months has been two main things. First is the take over of Gaza by Hamas which creates a fear for Israel and the United States for the future in that area. If Hamas succeeds in taking political control over the West Bank any hopes of peace talks between the two nations will be set aside.
Second, are the peace talks scheduled for November between 49 Arab nations (the Arab League) and the state of Israel. They are being held in Annapolis, Maryland by the United States. The Bush administration until this point has had a hands off approach to the Arab Israeli conflict during their time in the White House (2000-2007). There are 49 nations invited to the peace talks including the Fatah (PLO) leader Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Olmert. The Hamas leader was not invited to the talks as well as the Iranians.
Mideast Peace Conference
The Middle East Peace Conference is being held in Annapolis this week. Its goal according to the United States is to build international support for a Palestinian state and discuss the possible division of Jerusalem.
Lead up to the Mideast Peace Conference
Syria agreed on November 25 to attend the Middle East Peace Conference in Annapolis this week. In the past Syria has supported groups who were for the destruction of the Israeli state such as Hamas and Hezbollah. But since the issue of the Golan Heights has been added to the agenda Syria has decided to attend the conference. The Golan Heights land belonged to the Syrians before the 1967 war and was taken away from them after they were defeated by Israel. A New York Times article stated that “The presence of major Arab countries, now including Syria, is meant to provide Arab sanction and support for the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to make the concessions required for peace. The Arabs promise Israel that a comprehensive peace will mean their recognition of the Jewish state. But a comprehensive peace must also include a resolution on the Golan Heights.”
Hamas (which is in control of Gaza) has stated that it will not recognize anything that takes place at the peace conference in Annapolis. They are even threatening to turn to violence to defend what they consider their basic rights. On the first day of the conference (November 27, 2007) there was a large protest by the Palestinian's calling for "death to America, death to Israel." The Palestinian's are split between those that support Hamas and those who have stayed loyal to Abbas and the Fatah party.
There is optimism for the conference on the side of the United States but many other Arab nations feel that this conference is a great photo opportunity and nothing more. Since Hamas has already stated that anything accomplished between Israel and the Palestinians will not be recognized and other Arab nations do not believe a peace agreement will be reached.
Current News on Events Happening During Mideast Peace Conference
The Mideast Peace conference began on November 27, 2007. On the first day Ehud Olmert (Israeli) and Mahmoud Abbas (Palestinian) committed to working on a peace treaty by the end of 2008. So far the agreement just calls for talks between the two nations and does not directly address the issues between the two states. The major issues which will need to be agreed upon by the two nations are borders for a Palestinian state, Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the status of Jerusalem, and the fate of Palestinian refugees (right of return).
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