By Daoud Kuttab The political and security situation in the Gaza Strip has become more complicated with the rise of Palestinian groups that are reportedly sympathetic to the Islamic State (IS) and operate under its banner.  While radical jihadist Salafist elements have existed in Gaza for years, this is the first time that responsibility for a…

Following appeared in the Jordan times newspaper By Daoud Kuttab For the first time in 48 years, Palestinians are playing in a much more level playing field. By strategically moving into the non-violent field, Palestinians are in a much stronger position to make an impact in their decades-long struggle. Whenever Palestinians fought the Israelis in…

Following appeard in the Jordan Times newspaper To many people, the entire non-violent Palestinian movement came down to a moment last Friday in Zurich. Many would argue that head of the Palestinian Football Federation Jibril Rjoub blinked at that moment. In the very last seconds of a match that witnessed a steadfast and unyielding determination,…

By Daoud Kuttab Students graduating from church-run schools in the Holy Land are among the best performing and successful. Some of these educational institutions recently received worldwide visibility with the canonization of two Palestinian nuns whose selfless efforts wereinstrumental in raising the level of education in what is now Palestine and Israel.  Christian schools in Israel, however, are facing severe financial…

By Daoud Kuttab Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed that he is a masterful politician in his most recent offer to the EU’s top foreign official. During her visit to Israel and Palestine May 24, the Israeli leader told EU Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini that he was ready to discuss the borders of settlement blocs that would one day…

Following appeared in the Jordan Times newspaper For the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the pressure from the EU regarding Israel’s settlements is nothing compared to the pressure of forming a majority coalition. Netanyahu used his shrewdness and clever play on words to charm the visiting European foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. Instead of balking…

By Daoud Kuttab The head of the Palestinian Football Federation spoke optimistically of winning the vote that the general assembly of the world soccer association FIFA will hold May 29. Three-fourths of the association’s 209 members are needed to remove a member. “I am 100% sure we will win the vote and remove the Israelis from…

By Daoud Kuttab The Vatican gave Palestine three gifts within the span of a few days. On May 13, it recognized Palestine, thereby making the state of Palestine, rather than the Palestine Liberation Organization, its official diplomatic point of reference. The Vatican also ameliorated years of struggle by Palestinians on May 17 by canonizing two Palestinian nuns who were born and served in the 19th…

By Daoud Kuttab Visualizing Palestine, a Lebanese-based nongovernmental organization, created an interactive map that shows the shrinking Palestinian population in Palestine between 1918 and 2015. The graphic, “Palestine Shrinking, Israel Expanding,” demonstrates in a clear and simple way the catastrophe that has befallen the Palestinians as a result of Zionist immigration to Palestine and their (direct and…