The Palestinian Authority
The Palestinian Authority, (PA, also called the Palestinian National Authority, PNA), came into existence in 1994 as a result of the 1993 Oslo Accords. In an effort to moderate the Palestinian voice, the PA was created in order to take over negotiations and administration of Palestinian territories in the West Bank until a final agreement could be reached. While the PLO remains the internationally recognized representative of the Palestinian people, and has a seat in the UN, the PA became responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Palestinian areas.
The West Bank became divided into three areas: Area A, Area B, and Area C. Area A consists of the most heavily Palestinian cities, and the PA maintains control over both security and civilian issues. Area B is mostly Palestinian rural areas, and there, the PA is responsible for civilian affairs only. Area C includes Israeli settlements and bypass roads, and those have remained under exclusive Israeli control. East Jerusalem was excluded from the negotiations and it, too, remains under Israeli control.
Yasser Arafat was the first president of the PA, winning by a landslide in the first elections in 1996. However, his administration was rife with internal corruption and continued acts of terrorism. At Israel’s behest, Yasser Arafat was removed from his post as president. Despite his signing of the Oslo Accords, Israel insisted that Arafat’s past actions proved him an incompatible partner for peace. Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen and viewed as a more moderate leader, was appointed president in Arafat’s stead in 2003. Abbas resigned shortly after, citing a lack of support, but after Arafat’s death in 2004, Abbas was chosen as the candidate for the Fatah party, of which Arafat was formerly the head, and Abbas won in the 2005 elections.
The underlying reason for the creation of the PA was to create a more moderate administration, a true partner for peace with Israel. However, since its creation, Israel has accused the PA of at best, turning a blind eye to the terrorist activities of its members, and at worst, financing, aiding, and assisting them. During the Second Intifada, Israel was able to prove that the PA was behind some of the worst atrocities, and the IDF sought to disable their infrastructure. The PA was even condemned internationally for its failure to uproot its militant elements and end the violence. In addition to accusations of violence against Israeli citizens, the PA has been accused, especially during Arafat’s reign, of internal violence, executing those who disagreed with Arafat or who were accused of collaborating with Israelis.
The PA scored an important victory in 2005, when then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the disengagement from all settlements from the Gaza Strip, and a few from the northern West Bank, in the hopes of achieving a more stable peace with the Palestinians. The PA gained full control over all areas in the Gaza Strip. However, in 2006, a surprise victory by Hamas in the parliamentary elections threw the PA into turmoil. The United States and European Union had been funding the PA, in an effort to express its support and recognition of the administration. However, with the victory of Hamas, a terrorist organization, the aid halted. It was resumed shortly, with the monies channeled directly to Abbas.
But the fighting between the Fatah-led PA and Hamas intensified, leading to a split within the administration. Hamas gained control of the Gaza Strip, while the PA retained its control in the West Bank. Hamas’ leadership, as many Israelis predicted, led to further attacks on Israeli citizens, including devastating rocket attacks, which in turn resulted in Israel’s 2008 military campaign. Operation Cast Lead lasted three weeks and targeted the terrorist headquarters and weapons’ stores in Gaza.
Today, talks continue between the PA and the Israeli government, under the stewardship of the United States. (Such talks necessarily exclude the Hamas leadership in Gaza, which refuses to recognize Israel.) However, disputes, such as the timetable for the envisioned Israeli-Palestinian agreement, Israel’s construction on the West Bank, and the Palestinians’ lack of recognition of Israel, continue to stymie progress.
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