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                                                                                              Updated April 14, 2020
The Palestinians: Overview and Key Issues for U.S. Policy


The Palestinians and their ongoing disputes andinteractions
with Israelraise significant issues forU.S. policy (see Key
U.S. Policy Issues below). U.S.-Palestinian tensions have
risen in connection with Trump Adminis tration actions
generally seen as favoring Israel, including the release of a
U.S. peace plan in January 2020. Within a complicated
legal and political context, the United States suspended
bilateral aid to the Palestinians in 2019. The resumption of
aid may depend on various factors mentioned below,
including the public health and economic effects of the
global COVID-19 pandemic. The virus's potential impact
on the Gaza Strip-given its infrastructure problems and
high population density-maybe ofparticular concern,
with possible ripple effects for Israel.
The Palestinians are an Arab people whose origins are in
present-day Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Fatah, an
Arab nationalis t faction, is the driving force within the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which represents
Palestinians internationally. The Sunnilslamist group
Hamas (a U.S.-designated terroristorganization) has not
accepted PLO recognition of Israel and constitutes the main
oppositionto Fatah.


Source: Economist Intelligence Unit.
Note: West Bank and Gaza Strip borders remain subject to Israeli-
Palestinian negotiation.
Of the approximately 12.4 million Palestinians worldwide,
about 4.8 million (98% SunniMuslim, 1% Christian) live in
the West Bank and Gaza. About 1.5 million additional
Palestinians are citizens of Israel, and 6.1 million more live
elsewhere. Of the total Pales tinian population, around 5.4
million (roughly 44%) are refugees (registered in the West
Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria) whose claims to
land in present-day Israel constitute a major is sue of Israeli-
Pales tinian dispute. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides


health care, education, and housing as sistance to Palestinian
refugees.
International attention to the Palestinians' situation
increased after Israel's military gained control over the
West BankandGaza in the 1967 Arab-IsraeWar. Direct
U.S. engagement with Palestinians in the WestBankand
Gaza dates fromthe establishmentofthe Palestinian
Authority (PA) in 1994. For the past several years, other
regional political and security is sues have taken some of the
global attention fromPales tinian issues.


1993- 1995       Israel and the PLO mutually recognize each
                 other and establish the PA, which has limited
                 self-rule (subject to overall Israeli control) in
                 the Gaza Strip and specified areas of the
                 West Bank.


2000-2005



2004-2005

2005


2006



2007



2007-present




2017-present


Second Palestinian intifada affects prospects
for Israeli-Palestinian peace, leads to
tightened Israeli security in the West Bank,
and complicates the U.S. third-party role.
PLO Chairman/PA President Yasser Arafat
dies; Mahmoud Abbas succeeds him.
Israel unilaterally disengages from Gaza, but
remains in control of airspace and
land/maritime access points.
Hamas wins majority in Palestinian Legislative
Council and leads new PA cabinet; Israel,
United States, and European Union confine
relations to PA President Abbas.
West Bank-Gaza split: Hamas seizes control
of Gaza Strip; Abbas reorganizes PA cabinet
to lead West Bank; this remains the status
quo to date.
Various rounds of U.S.-brokered Israeli-
Palestinian peace negotiations (the last in
2013-2014) end unsuccessfully; PLO/PA
increases efforts to gain membership in or
support from international organizations.
U.S.-Palestinian tensions rise in connection
with various Trump Administration actions
(see Key U.S. Policy Issues below).


z,'LO    .IP.z G -r amcex s ,'},:, and Scco
The PA held occasional elections for president and a
legislative council until the Hans victory in the 2006
legislative elections. Since then, it has ruled bypresidential
decree, and some NGOs have criticized its actions on rule
of law and civil liberties. Given the West Bank-Gaza split
in 2007, it is unclearifelections will take place again.


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