It was founded in 1950s by Mahmoud Abbas who also served as prime minister of the Palestine and elected president on this day in 2005.
He is a key figure in Palestinian politics, has had a remarkable career. Born on November 15, 1935, in Safed, Mandatory Palestine (now Israel), Abbas fled to Syria with his family during the 1948 Palestine war.
Abbas became the first Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority in 2003, serving under Yasser Arafat. However, his term was cut short due to conflicts with Arafat over power distribution, and he resigned on September 6, 2003.
On January 9, 2005, Abbas was elected President of the Palestinian Authority, succeeding Yasser Arafat. He won the election with an overwhelming 67.38% of the votes, with Mustafa Barghouti coming in second with 20.99%.
As President, Abbas has been a key player in Palestinian politics, advocating for a two-state solution and negotiating with Israel. Despite facing challenges and criticism, Abbas remains a prominent figure in the Palestinian leadership.
