Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
With few viable options at its disposal to address Gaza’s pressing social and economic needs, Hamas may be forced to extend its unity government with Fatah.
Social and economic grievances among Palestinian residents and the contentious politics of the Israeli right underlie East Jerusalem’s turmoil.
Gaza cannot be rebuilt in a political vacuum; and conditions alone placed on international funding of Gaza’s reconstruction are not likely to work.
Hamas’s small tactical gains are unlikely to translate any short-term popularity boost into long-term political capital.
A mutual desire to show strength has escalated the conflict, and although neither side wants another war, it may already be too late to pull back.
Fundamental flaws in the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation deal, including disputes over security cooperation with Israel, may lead to the fall of the unity government.
Judging by recent student council elections in the West Bank, Fatah can expect a narrow lead in the upcoming national elections, as long as voter turnout doesn’t increase, which would play in Hamas’s favor.
Despite skepticism, Gazans are hopeful about the prospects of unity between Hamas and Fatah.
The escalating dispute between Mahmoud Abbas and Mohammad Dahlan divides and weakens Fatah, and it complicates the issue of internal succession.
Increased international media coverage of the BDS movement’s efforts to bring attention to Palestinians’ rights is boosting its mission.
Drawn into the Syrian conflict, Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk are turning to social media to generate support and to hold their divided leadership and the international community accountable.
If current political and economic conditions in the West Bank continue, the Salafi-jihadi threat may grow to pose a real challenge.
The current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, based on mutual short-term goals of deterrence, lacks a strategy for maintaining peace in the long term.
Hamas is losing popularity and support among the Palestinian population and its key regional allies. How will that shape the group’s future?
Hurt by Morsi’s ouster in Egypt and alienated from former allies in Syria and Iran, Hamas is struggling to keep itself afloat economically and politically.
President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu each face political pressures at home that have constrained their abilities to compromise on the peace process.
Intra-Palestinian reconciliation takes a back seat to the Israeli-Palestinian Peace process.
Institutional failure to move the peace process forward is compelling the Palestinian people to look to themselves and to civil society for a solution.
There are several highly encouraging signs for peace talks in the wake of the U.S. president’s visit to the region.
Major challenges threaten to stand in the face of a reconciliation deal between Fatah and Hamas.