The recent victory of Hamas in student union elections at Birzeit University – often an indication of trends in Palestinian politics – is seen by many as reflecting a growing popularity of the Islamist movement over Fatah, the primary actor in the PLO which runs the Palestinian Authority.
Walid Salem, a leading community and democracy activist, will address recent political developments including Hamas-Fatah tensions, Israeli-Palestinian relations, developments in the region, and security in light of recent rioting and violence in Palestinian areas.
Salem is a well-known political and social analyst and a member of the Palestinian Committee for Interaction with Israelis; director of the Palestinian Center for Democracy and Community Development; and a lecturer at al-Quds University on conflict resolution.
