Abbas makes last-ditch effort to win Palestinian independence
By Daoud Kuttab Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is possibly making his last effort to try to bring about an independent state. The odds are against him, but he has a plan and he appears to be set to giving it his last best shot. Abbas’ speech at the UN General Assembly attempted to lay down the […]
Lingering dreams, shattered dreams
following appeared in the Jordan Times newspaper By Daoud Kuttab Barbar was publishing media reports, running her own media training centre and was active in the field of women’s rights, but the one place she literally was dreaming to go to was the occupied West Bank. Not only had she not visited other parts of […]
Palestinian Trying to Rebuild Progressive Women Radio
By Daoud Kuttab When I met Islam Barbar in a Gaza restaurant in 2012 while on a human rights mission, I was impressed with her cheerful demeanor but taken aback by the hopelessness that she felt. Although Barbar was publishing media reports, running her own media training center and active in women’s rights issues, the […]
Why is Abbas playing hardball with Hamas?
By Daoud Kuttab On paper it looks like Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his counterparts in Hamas need each other. Abbas will be unable to carry out Gaza’s reconstruction or even talk convincingly to the world about the future of Palestine without the acquiescence of the Islamists. On the other hand, Hamas cannot get a […]
Najwa Najjar’s Film Reflects Palestinian Humanity
By Daoud Kuttab The 700-seat Ramallah Cultural Palace, on whose premises is the grave of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, was overcrowded on September 9. Over 850 people packed the cinema hall to watch Najwa Najjar’s premiere of her second long feature film,Eyes of a Thief. The Palestinian filmmaker’s film follows her successful Pomegranates and Myrrh,which […]
New Palestinian film shuns stereotypes
By Daoud Kuttab The common saying that one person’s freedom fighter is another’s terrorist well describes how the world is often divided over the Palestinian resistance. One of the continuous and often angry arguments between Palestinians and Israelis concerns the form of Palestinian resistance. Israelis showcase cherry-picked acts of Palestinian violence in which Israeli civilians […]
Jewish extremists try to change status quo at Al-Aqsa
By Daoud Kuttab When Moshe Feiglin, deputy speaker of the Israeli Knesset, set foot in Al-Aqsa Mosque around 10Â a.m. Sept. 14, he was on more than a tourist visit. His venture to the mosque and short prayer in the area was seen as an attempt to declare Jewish sovereignty over the Islamic holy place. It […]
Abbas’ new initiative
Following appeared in the Jordan Times newspaper By Daoud Kuttab “I have had it up to here,†said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the emir of Qatar and the head of Hamas. “I have had it with Hamas, with Arabs with Israel and even with Fateh.†Abbas’ words and the minutes of the meetings of […]
Will Abbas carry out threats if his peace plan is rejected?
By Daoud Kuttab When chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and the head of Palestinian intelligence Majed Farraj walked into the offices of US Secretary of State John KerryJohn Kerry on Sept. 4, they were prepared for all eventualities. For the first time in modern history, the Palestinian leadership had produced a time-based political initiative that was not dependent on […]
After Gaza, Hamas and Fatah back to bickering
By Daoud Kuttab It seems as simple as pushing a button. Palestinian-Israeli politics have shifted from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, as if the 51-day war against Gaza never happened. One week after the announcement of the permanent cease-fire by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israel is back to confiscating Palestinian lands for settlements, Jewish religious zealots are infiltrating Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and Palestinian internal bickering is […]