Politics and internal structure Palestinian National Authority

mahmoud abbas (abu mazen), president of palestinian authority since 2005 (disputed since 2009).

the politics of palestinian authority take place within framework of semi-presidential multi-party republic, palestinian legislative council (plc), executive president, , prime minister leading cabinet. according palestinian basic law signed arafat in 2002 after long delay, current structure of pa based on 3 separate branches of power: executive, legislative, , judiciary. pa created by, accountable to, , has historically been associated with, palestine liberation organization (plo), whom israel negotiated oslo accords.

the plc elected body of 132 representatives, must confirm prime minister upon nomination president, , must approve government cabinet positions proposed prime minister. judicial branch has yet formalized. president of pa directly elected people, , holder of position considered commander-in-chief of armed forces. in amendment basic law approved in 2003, president appoints prime minister chief of security services in palestinian territories. prime minister chooses cabinet of ministers , runs government, reporting directly president.

parliamentary elections conducted in january 2006 after passage of overhauled election law increased number of seats 88 132. chairman of plo, yasser arafat, elected president of pa in landslide victory @ general election in 1996.

arafat s administration criticized lack of democracy, widespread corruption among officials, , division of power among families , numerous governmental agencies overlapping functions. both israel , declared lost trust in arafat partner , refused negotiate him, regarding him linked terrorism. arafat denied this, , visited other leaders around world until death. however, began push change in palestinian leadership. in 2003, mahmoud abbas resigned because of lack of support israel, us, , arafat himself. won presidency on 9 january 2005 62% of vote. former prime minister ahmed qureia formed government on 24 february 2005 wide international praise because, first time, ministries headed experts in field opposed political appointees.

the presidential mandate of mahmoud abbas expired in 2009 , no longer recognised hamas, among others, legitimate palestinian leader. according palestinian documents leaked al jazeera news organization, united states has threatened cut off funding palestinian authority should there change in palestinian leadership in west bank. in february 2011, palestinian authority announced parliamentary , presidential elections held september 2011.

on 27 april 2011, fatah s azzam al-ahmad announced party s signing of memorandum of understanding hamas leadership, major step towards reconciliation paving way unity government. deal formally announced in cairo, , co-ordinated under mediation of egypt s new intelligence director murad muwafi. deal came amidst international campaign statehood advanced abbas administration, expected culminate in request admission general assembly member state in september. part of deal, 2 factions agreed hold elections in both territories within twelve months of creation of transitional government. in response announcement, israeli prime minister netanyahu warned authority must choose whether wants peace israel or peace hamas .

officials

political parties , elections

from establishment of palestinian authority in 1993 until death of yasser arafat in late 2004, 1 election had taken place. other elections deferred various reasons.

a single election president , legislature took place in 1996. next presidential , legislative elections scheduled 2001, delayed following outbreak of al-aqsa intifada. following arafat s death, elections president of authority announced 9 january 2005. plo leader mahmoud abbas won 62.3% of vote, while dr. mustafa barghouti, physician , independent candidate, won 19.8%.

on 10 may 2004, palestinian cabinet announced municipal elections take place first time. elections announced august 2004 in jericho, followed municipalities in gaza strip. in july 2004 these elections postponed. issues voter registration said have contributed delay. municipal elections took place council officials in jericho , 25 other towns , villages in west bank on 23 december 2004. on 27 january 2005, first round of municipal elections took place in gaza strip officials in 10 local councils. further rounds in west bank took place in may 2005.

elections new palestinian legislative council (plc) scheduled july 2005 acting palestinian authority president rawhi fattuh in january 2005. these elections postponed mahmoud abbas after major changes election law enacted plc required more time palestinian central elections committee process , prepare. among these changes expansion of number of parliament seats 88 132, half of seats competed in 16 localities, , other half elected in proportion party votes nationwide pool of candidates.

the following organizations, listed in alphabetic order, have taken part in recent popular elections inside palestinian authority:

democratic front liberation of palestine (al-jabhah al-dimuqratiyah li-tahrir filastin)
fatah or liberation movement of palestine (harakat al-tahrâr al-filistini)
hamas or islamic resistance movement (harakat al-muqawamah al-islamiyah)
palestine democratic union (al-ittihad al-dimuqrati al-filastini, fida)
palestinian national initiative (al-mubadara al-wataniya al-filistiniyya)
palestinian people s party (hizb al-sha b al-filastini)
popular front liberation of palestine (al-jabhah al-sha abiyah li-tahrir filastin)

october 2006 polls showed fatah , hamas had equal strength.

on 14 june 2007, after battle of gaza (2007), palestine president mahmoud abbas dismissed hamas-led government, leaving government under control 30 days, after temporary government had approved palestinian legislative council.