Strategic Assessment

The popular uprisings in the Arab world have so far not ignited similar dissent among the Palestinian public on the West Bank. In recent years there has been relative calm on the security front within the PA, driven by PA recognition that it is necessary to maintain calm on the security front in order to construct the institutions and economy of a state-in-the-making. At the same time, the leadership is quite aware that negative sentiments, influenced by events in the Arab world, may arise in the West Bank and perhaps lead to a popular groundswell against it. The essay examines some of the challenges the PA faces regarding the legitimacy of its rule, criticism over human rights violations, and the fact that much of the population is not enjoying the fruits of the economic growth, and discusses the PA’s attempts to deflect these challenges.