JERUSALEM, July 24 -- Israeli officials on Thursday revived plans to construct a new settlement in the occupied West Bank, two years after U.S. pressure forced Israel to shelve the idea.
From CFR
Israel's Political System Seats in Israel's legislative assembly, the Knesset, are assigned through a system of nationwide proportional representation: Rather than electing individual candidates, voters cast ballots for an entire party.
Source: United States Embassy in Israel, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Important Institutions
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) An umbrella organization founded in 1964 with the aim of destroying Israel. More recently, the PLO officially adopted a two-state solution.
Palestinian Authority or Palestinian National Authority A government created in the early 1990s by the PLO and Israel to oversee parts of Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Hamas An Islamic militant movement founded in 1987 that has steadily gained power and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S.
Fatah Moderate Palestinian political faction that lost power in the Palestinian legislature in 2006 to Hamas. It is supported by the U.S. and Israel.
Palestinian Legislative Council The lawmaking body of the Palestinian Authority that governs parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Hamas holds 74 of 132 seats.
Kenesset Unicameral legislative branch of the Israeli government. Kadima is the largest party in the body, holding 29 of the 120 seats.
In Depth
Primer: Israel
Background on Israel's ongoing conflict with militant groups.
Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen)
Fatah leader elected president of the Palestinian Authority following the death of Yasser Arafat in 2005. Seen as a moderate Palestinian and since the 1970s he has searched for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Ehud Olmert
Became prime minister of Israel in 2006. Olmert offered support to Abbas and the Fatah movement after Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip, possibly opening the door to peace agreements.
Ismail Haniyeh
Hamas leader and former Palestinian prime minister. Though officially removed from his position, he refuses to acknowledge his loss of power and continues to rule with the support of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza.
photo source: Associated Press
Defining the Barrier
Israel is in the process of building a complex system of trenches in the West Bank designed to help stop deadly Palestinian suicide attacks. In this series of multimedia reports, washingtonpost.com examines how Israel's system of fences, walls and trenches in the West Bank affects both Jews and Arabs.