Mahmoud Abbas

President of the Palestinian Authority since 2005 · Palestine · Politicians · Born 1935 · age 90

Mahmoud Abbas is read about 3,299 times a day, in 87 languages.

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He has held the presidency of the Palestinian Authority since 2005 on a term that expired in 2009. What was meant as a four-year mandate became indefinite extension by council vote, leaving him the internationally recognized leader while his domestic legitimacy remains contested.

Politicians Politician Politics Law 20th Century

A life in dates

2026Honorary DoctorateAward2023“The Europeans] fought against these people because of their role in society, which had to do with usury, money, and so on and so forth ...”In their wordsAugust 2023From a speech at Fatah's Revolutionary Council (late August 2023), as cited in "The Holocaust Wasn't Fueled by Antisemitism, Hitler HatedRead the whole statement

2022Order of the Star of RomaniaAward2021Medal of Friends of the Algerian RevolutionAward2017Order of the RepublicAward2015Order of Glory and HonorAwardOrder of PalestineAward2014National Order of MeritAwardOrder of Francisco de MirandaAward2013Order of FriendshipAwardOrder of Mubarak the GreatAwardOrder of the Distinguished Rule of IzzuddinAward2011Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and MellaAward2010Order of the Grand Star of DjiboutiAward2008Order of Al-FakhrAwardPresident of the State of PalestineOffice2006“I simply want tomorrow to be better than today. I want Palestine to be independent and sovereign... Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand.”In their words21 September 2006Address to the UN General Assembly (21 September 2006), quoted in BBC News (22 September 2006) "Hamas rejects Abbas unity pledgeRead the whole statement

2005“The little jihad is over, and now we have the bigger jihad - the bigger battle is achieving security and economic growth.”In their words20 August 2005Campaign speech in Gaza City (20 August 2005), quoted in The New York Times (21 August) Hamas Pushing for Lead Role in a New Gaza by JamesRead the whole statement

“From here, our people begin the march towards establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital”In their words12 August 2005Speech at the Gaza City harbour on the occasion of Jewish settler withdrawal (12 August 2005), quoted in BBC News, "Gaza boats mass to markRead the whole statement

President of the Palestinian National AuthorityOffice2004“We have at least 12 security apparatuses that cannot be controlled by anybody.”In their words20 July 2004Interview in Newsweek (20 July 2004) by Dan EphronRead the whole statement

Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation OrganizationOfficeMore about this, 20042003Prime Minister of the Palestinian National AuthorityOffice1996Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation OrganizationOffice1996-2003More about this1994Head of Negotiations Affairs DepartmentOffice1994-20031948“Israeli and Zionist claims continue by saying that Israel made the desert bloom. As if Palestine was a desert and they made the desert bloom [...] These are lies.”In their wordsComments at a United Nations event in New York City (15 May 20-23) commemorating the Nakba (the 1948 Palestinian exodus), as cited in "'AnRead the whole statement

1935Born15 November 1935

Also in Deutsch

Photos 12

Abbas with Ariel Sharon and George W. Bush in Aqaba, Jordan, 4 June 2003.

Abbas with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, January 2011

Abbas with U.S. president Joe Biden at the Palestinian Presidential Palace in Bethlehem, July 2022

Abbas with U.S. president Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., 3 May 2017

Abbas with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Novo-Ogaryovo, Russia, 13 August 2024

Abbas with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office

In their own words 7

Mahmoud Abbas

7 statements, newest first

The Europeans] fought against these people because of their role in society, which had to do with usury, money, and so on and so forth ...
Aug 2023, From a speech at Fatah's Revolutionary Council (late August 2023), as cited in "The Holocaust Wasn't Fueled by Antisemitism, Hitler Hated, Own words
I simply want tomorrow to be better than today. I want Palestine to be independent and sovereign... Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand.
Sep 21, 2006, Address to the UN General Assembly (21 September 2006), quoted in BBC News (22 September 2006) "Hamas rejects Abbas unity pledge, Own words
The little jihad is over, and now we have the bigger jihad - the bigger battle is achieving security and economic growth.
Aug 20, 2005, Campaign speech in Gaza City (20 August 2005), quoted in The New York Times (21 August) Hamas Pushing for Lead Role in a New Gaza by James, Own words

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Awards

Honorary Doctorate, Arab American University2026

Order of the Star of Romania2022

Medal of Friends of the Algerian Revolution2021

Order of Isa II2017

Order of the Republic2017

Order of Glory and Honor2015

Order of Palestine2015

Order of Francisco de Miranda2014

National Order of Merit2014

Order of Friendship2013

Order of Mubarak the Great2013

Order of Merit2013

Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin2013

Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella2011

Order of the Grand Star of Djibouti2010

Order of Al-Fakhr2008

Honorary Doctor of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations

Honorary Doctor of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia

Juan Pablo Duarte Order of Merit

Order of Zayed

Order of the Umayyads

National Order of Merit

Family

Mahmoud Abbas

Partners

Spouse Amina Abbas

Children

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About this person

Born 15 November 1935, Mahmoud Abbas rose through the ranks of the Palestine Liberation Organization, eventually leading its Negotiations Affairs Department and becoming a key figure in talks toward an Israel-Palestine two-state solution. He served briefly as the Palestinian Authority's first prime minister in 2003 before being elected president in January 2005. Named PLO chairman in 2004 and Fatah party chairman in 2009, he consolidated his position across Palestinian political structures. When his four-year presidential term ended in 2009, he extended it by invoking the PLO constitution, then was voted into office indefinitely by the PLO Central Council in December of that year. Hamas, Fatah's rival, initially refused to recognize the extension, though the two factions later agreed to a unity government that ran from 2014 to 2016. He remains internationally recognized despite accusations of corruption, Holocaust trivialization, and distorting Jewish history.

Country

Palestine