Palestinian Union Boss Emerges as Power Broker
By Daoud Kuttab He is probably not very well known outside the territories of the state of Palestine, but if you ask almost any Palestinian, they would most likely know who Bassam Zakarneh is. Technically, he is a member of the Revolutionary Council in Fatah. But ask any Fatah activist and they will say that he […]
Why Obama Should Place A Wreath at Arafat’s Grave
By Daoud Kuttab Less than a week before the important visit that the US president will make to Israel, Palestine and Jordan, there are some mysteries as to the Palestinian leg of his visit. While the most repeated itinerary lists Ramallah as a city where the US president will be spending a few hours, […]
The New Pope and Palestine
By Daoud Kuttab Electing the leader of the world’s Catholic faithful is always an unpredictable affair. The choice of Argentina’s cardinal, now Pope Francis, has lived up to the mystery. What concerns people the most is the political direction that the leader of the world’s more than 1 billion Catholics will take on issues such […]
Palestinians Tire of Israeli ‘Games’ on Settlements
By Daoud Kuttab One thing is clear before, during and after the visit of President Barack Obama to the region: When it comes to the issue of Jewish settlements in Palestine, it is all a game. A few weeks before the visit of the US president, Israelis were rushing to build as many housing units […]
A New Liberty Sweeps Through Jordan Radio
By Rana F. Sweis Published March 6, 2013 AMMAN — As the sun rises over the Jordanian capital, the problems of the day start to stream in to Radio Fann. In the studio, producers scramble to keep up with calls and e-mails from listeners complaining about issues like water shortages and bureaucratic failures. In a […]
Palestinian Finance Minister Resigns Amid Cash Crisis
By Daoud Kuttab Khalil Abu Arafeh’s cartoon, which ran in the Sunday, March 3 edition of the leading Palestinian newspaper Al Quds, left no doubt as to the reason behind the resignation of Nabil Qassis, the Palestinian minister of finance. Abu Arafeh showed an empty safe, with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s hands folded next to […]
Palestinian Reconciliation Ends in Angry Exchange
By Daoud Kuttab The Feb. 20 event held at the PLO offices in Ramallah was supposed to produce a warming of relations between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the various PLO groups led by Fatah. At the podium was Dr. Abdel Aziz Dweik, the former head of the Palestine Legislative Council, who was […]
Abu Mazen Plays Neutral On West Bank Protests
By Daoud Kuttab One of the biggest questions being raised these days is whether the Ramallah-based Palestinian leadership favors the escalation of Palestinian protests. For the past few weeks, Palestinian anger has been publicly displayed in various forms, most prominently in street protests that have raised speculation that a third intifada could be around the corner. […]
Woe
By Daoud Kuttab Amazing what a difference a year can make. Last year we met in Tunis and signed agreements with young activists in various countries to do what seemed the impossible. Defy the logic that has prevailed in the Arab world namely that it is easier to change governments and bring down dictators than […]
Israel Should Recognize Rights Of Palestinian Journalists
By Daoud Kuttab One of the most basic principles of journalism is the need for members of the press to have an opportunity to witness a particular event or have a chance to talk to their subjects. This principle applies to both Palestinian and Israeli journalists alike. But the reality in occupied Palestine is […]