Category: Palestinian politics

By Daoud Kuttab The voice of Father Jamal Khader coming over the waves of Radio Mawwal in Bethlehem was soothing and confident. A caller asked him to explain the words of Jesus, “to love your enemy”, in light of the occupation and walls built by Israel and the injustice against Palestinians. Father Khader, who was…

By Daoud Kuttab For a few minutes on Sunday I wondered what would have happened if I was reading rather than listening to US President Barack Obama’s statement from Hawaii. The US president took time off his Christmas vacation to speak about the incident that occurred on the flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. Had I…

The following appeared in FOreign Policy The Only Hope Left? Why a unilaterally declared state might be the only one that Palestine can get. BY DAOUD KUTTAB | NOVEMBER 17, 2009 Mahmoud Abbas is in a bind. Faced with a seemingly insurmountable impasse to negotiations with Israel, the Palestinian Authority president can either resign from…

Daoud Kuttab AMMAN – If the Islamic movement Hamas succeeds in obtaining the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including many with long-term sentences, it will, no doubt, complicate the delicate attempts to reach a negotiated agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Such an accomplishment will prove that those who use violence can produce better…

By Daoud Kuttab Forty-two years is a long time. Israel somehow thinks that with passing of time, and by passing unilateral laws, it can dictate history. This week, the Israeli arrogance in going against international will, which has been going on for so many years, seems to be facing a reality check. The next logical…

following appeared in today’s Jordan Times Breakthrough or more of the same? By Daoud Kuttab Ever since the announcement by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he will not run in the next Palestinian presidential elections, political circles in Palestine have been witnessing a sort of paralysis. Gone are the daily meetings in Ramallah’s muqatta with…

By Daoud Kuttab If you ever want to have a single case that can illustrate all the sources of disagreement in the Middle East all you need to do is look at the Shalit prisoner exchange deal. Legally Israel refuses to recognize the over ten thousand prisoners it is holding to be prisoners of war…

By Daoud Kuttab If there were a case that could illustrate the disagreement between Israel and the Palestinians, the Shalit prisoner exchange deal could be the one. Various aspects of any such exchange, and the way different issues are being spun politically, are illustrative. Legally, Israel refuses to recognise the over 10,000 prisoners it is…

The following appeared in the NY Times web site   An Absurd Situation Daoud Kuttab is a Palestinian journalist and a former Ferris professor of journalism at Princeton University. The case of Palestinian prisoners and the prospect of an eminent prisoner exchange between Hamas and the Israelis reveal aspects of the conflict that Israel has tried…

Daoud Kuttab print recommend Send link clip secure rights larger | smaller comments: 0 RAMALLAH – A political leader’s decision not to seek re-election usually triggers fervent discussion about potential heirs. Yet, President Mahmoud Abbas’s withdrawal from the presidential election scheduled for January 24, 2010, has produced nothing of the kind in Palestine – not…