The President of the Palestinian Authority is the highest-ranking political position (equivalent to head of state) in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). Though a term originally coined for Republican presidents, a head of state or chief of state is now universally known as the chief public representative of a nation-state, federation or commonwealth, whose role generally includes personifying the continuity and legitimacy of the state and exercising the political powers, functions... Official languages Arabic De facto capital Ramallah De june capital Jerusalem Largest city Gaza (East Jerusalem is the claimed largest city but is only a part of a city) President Mahmoud Abbas Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei Area  - Total (2001)  - % water 1,258 km² (Area A - PA full control) 1,204...

The term

The Arabic term ra'ees or ra'is (رئيس) can be translated to English as either "president" or "chairman". As the status of Palestine as a political entity is controversial, the use of the term "President" to describe the leader of the Palestinian government is controversial to some, as its use may be seen to imply a recognition of state sovereignty. The use of the term "Chairman" is controversial for the opposite reason -- its use may be seen to imply denial of Palestinian aspirations for statehood. [1] (http://www.islamonline.net/iol-english/dowalia/Politics-2000-August-23/politics5.asp) Arabic (العربية) is a Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... The West Bank The Gaza Strip The term Palestinian territories is used by mainstream Western journalists as a collective name for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip - two disputed territories in Palestine. ...

The Arabic term was used in the English text of the 1995 Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip [2]  (http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/THE+ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN+INTERIM+AGREEMENT.htm), part of the Oslo accords which established the PNA. In practice, when referring to the ra'ees in English documents and statements, the PNA uses the term "president", whereas Israel uses "chairman". 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Oslo Accords were a series of agreements negotiated between the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO, acting as representatives of the Palestinian people) in 1993 as part of a peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements...

The United States, in its role as peace broker, uses several different terms according to context. News releases from its embassy in Israel refer to the PNA "chairman"; press briefings in Washington use "president"; both occasionally avoid the issue with "Palestinian leader". The international English-language press mostly (but not always) follows the Palestinian terminology. Israeli press simply refers to the leader by name alone.

List of Presidents

• July 5, 1994 - November 11, 2004: Yasser Arafat
• November 11, 2004 - January 15, 2005: Rauhi Fattouh (interim)
• January 15, 2005 - present: Mahmoud Abbas

July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat (August 4 or August 24, 1929 – November 11, 2004), born Muhammad `Abd ar-Rauf al-Qudwa al-Husayni (Arabic محمد عبد الرؤوف القدوة الحسيني) and also known as Abu `Ammar (ابو عمّار), was co-founder and Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (1969–2004... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... Rawhi Fattuh (روحي فتوح, also transliterated as Rauhi Fattouh) (born 1953) was the interim President of the Palestinian Authority, following the death of Yasser Arafat on November 11, 2004 until January 15, 2005. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... Mahmoud Abbas (Arabic: محمود عباس) (born March 26, 1935), commonly known as Abu Mazen (ابو مازن), was elected President (Raees) of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on January 9, 2005 and took office on January 15, 2005. ...

History

Yasser Arafat was leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and became the Palestinian Authority's first president in 1994. His rule was validated by an election on January 20, 1996, but future elections were suspended. Arafat remained president until his death on November 11, 2004, at which point Palestinian house speaker Rauhi Fattouh assumed most of Arafat's duties and became interim president. However, he never formally assumed the title. New elections were held in January 2005, and won by Mahmoud Abbas. Yasser Arafat Yasser Arafat (August 4 or August 24, 1929 – November 11, 2004), born Muhammad `Abd ar-Rauf al-Qudwa al-Husayni (Arabic محمد عبد الرؤوف القدوة الحسيني) and also known as Abu `Ammar (ابو عمّار), was co-founder and Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (1969–2004... The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Arabic Munazzamat al-Tahrir Filastiniyyah منظمة تحرير فلسطينية ) is a political and paramilitary organization of Palestinian Arabs dedicated to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state to consist of the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, with an intent to destroy Israel. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The term Speaker is usually the title given to the presiding officer of a countrys lower house of parliament or congress (i. ... Rawhi Fattuh (روحي فتوح, also transliterated as Rauhi Fattouh) (born 1953) was the interim President of the Palestinian Authority, following the death of Yasser Arafat on November 11, 2004 until January 15, 2005. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... Mahmoud Abbas (Arabic: محمود عباس) (born March 26, 1935), commonly known as Abu Mazen (ابو مازن), was elected President (Raees) of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on January 9, 2005 and took office on January 15, 2005. ...