Palestinian National Authority

The Palestinian National Authority (PA) is the administrative body established by the Oslo Accords in 1993 to govern portions of The West Bank and Gaza Strip. It was initially intended as a five-year interim government until Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) reached a permanent settlement, but as of 2008, that settlement has not been achieved.

Fast Facts

1. 1993: Established by the Oslo Accords
2. Type of government: Parliamentary democracy
3. Head of state: President Mahmoud Abbas
4. Administrator: Portions of The West Bank and Gaza Strip
5. Leading political party: Fatah
6. Undermined by Second Intifada

History

Originally established as an interim body meant to serve for a five year period, failures in the peace process led to an extension and expansion of PA control. In 2006, Hamas, considered by a number of nations to be a terrorist organization, won a majority in elections. Several countries implemented an economic embargo, including Israel, Canada, the United States and the European Union. This brought much of the Palestinian economy to a halt, and led to widespread protests.

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