# Mahmoud Abbas

> president of the Palestinian Authority since 2005

**Wikidata**: [Q127998](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q127998)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Abbas)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mahmoud-abbas

## Summary
Mahmoud Abbas is a Palestinian politician and jurist who has served as the President of the Palestinian Authority since January 15, 2005, succeeding Yasser Arafat. A key figure in the Palestinian national movement, he is affiliated with the Fatah party and is the author of the non-fiction work *The Other Side: The Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism*. His leadership is characterized by extensive diplomatic engagement, earning him numerous international honors and honorary doctorates from institutions such as Damascus University and the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia.

## Biography
- **Born:** November 15, 1935
- **Nationality:** Palestinian (citizenship includes Palestine and the State of Palestine)
- **Education:**
  - Damascus University (Damascus, Syria)
  - Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (Moscow, Russia)
  - Honorary doctorate from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations
  - Honorary doctorate from the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
- **Known for:** Serving as the President of the Palestinian Authority and leading the Palestinian Liberation Organization's Executive Committee; authoring historical analysis on Nazism and Zionism.
- **Employer(s):** Palestinian National Authority, Palestine Liberation Organization (Executive Committee)
- **Field(s):** Politics, Jurisprudence, International Relations

## Contributions
Mahmoud Abbas has dedicated his career to the political and diplomatic advancement of the Palestinian cause.
- **Political Leadership:** He assumed the role of President of the Palestinian Authority on January 15, 2005, following the death of Yasser Arafat, and continues to serve as the Head of State. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which was established on May 28, 1964.
- **Literary Work:** He authored the non-fiction book *The Other Side: The Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism*, which analyzes historical connections between the two ideologies.
- **Diplomatic Recognition:** Under his leadership, the State of Palestine achieved non-member observer state status at the United Nations General Assembly on November 29, 2012.
- **Institutional Affiliation:** He maintains strong ties with global academic institutions, having received honorary doctorates from the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, reflecting his role in fostering international educational and political bridges.

## FAQs
**What is Mahmoud Abbas's primary political role?**
Mahmoud Abbas serves as the President of the Palestinian Authority and the Head of State of the State of Palestine, a position he has held since January 15, 2005. He is also a prominent member of the Fatah party and the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

**What are Mahmoud Abbas's educational qualifications?**
He is a trained jurist who studied at Damascus University in Syria and the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia in Moscow. Additionally, he has been awarded honorary doctorates by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia.

**Has Mahmoud Abbas written any significant books?**
Yes, he is the author of *The Other Side: The Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism*, a non-fiction work that explores the historical relationship between these two political movements.

**What international awards has Mahmoud Abbas received?**
He has been honored with numerous state awards, including the Order of the Republic (Tunisia), the Order of Zayed (UAE), the Order of Mubarak the Great (Kuwait), the Order of the Star of Romania, and the Medal of Friends of the Algerian Revolution, among others.

## Why They Matter
Mahmoud Abbas represents a critical continuity in Palestinian leadership, bridging the era of Yasser Arafat with modern diplomatic efforts. His tenure has been defined by the pursuit of statehood through international legal and diplomatic channels, culminating in the UN observer state status upgrade in 2012. By authoring historical analyses like *The Other Side*, he has contributed to the intellectual discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His extensive network of international awards and honorary degrees underscores his role as a global diplomat who has secured recognition for the Palestinian cause from diverse nations across the Arab world, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Without his sustained leadership, the institutional framework of the Palestinian Authority and its diplomatic standing in international bodies might have faced greater fragmentation.

## Notable For
- **Longest-serving President:** Holding the office of President of the Palestinian Authority since January 15, 2005.
- **Author:** Writing *The Other Side: The Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism*.
- **UN Status Achievement:** Overseeing the upgrade of Palestine to a non-member observer state at the UN in 2012.
- **Academic Honors:** Receiving honorary doctorates from the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
- **International Decorations:** Recipient of the Order of Zayed, Order of the Republic (Tunisia), Order of the Star of Romania, Order of Mubarak the Great, and the Medal of Friends of the Algerian Revolution.
- **Political Affiliation:** A long-standing member of the Fatah party and the Executive Committee of the PLO.
- **Legal Background:** Trained as a jurist and legal scholar.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Mahmoud Abbas was born on November 15, 1935. He is a Palestinian national with citizenship in both Palestine and the State of Palestine. His academic journey includes studies at Damascus University in Syria and the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia in Moscow. His background as a jurist has informed his approach to politics and international law. He has been recognized academically with honorary doctorates from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia.

### Political Career and Leadership
Abbas is a prominent politician who holds or seeks positions in government, with a specific focus on the Palestinian national movement. He has served as the President of the Palestinian Authority since January 15, 2005, succeeding Yasser Arafat. In this capacity, he acts as the Head of State for the State of Palestine. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), a body established on May 28, 1964, which serves as the government of the State of Palestine. His political affiliation is with the Fatah party. He is also known by the alias "Abu Mazen."

### Literary and Intellectual Contributions
Beyond his political duties, Abbas is an author. He wrote the non-fiction work *The Other Side: The Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism*. This book examines the historical intersections between Nazi Germany and the Zionist movement. His work as a jurist and academic scholar has contributed to the development of legal frameworks and historical understanding within the Palestinian context.

### International Recognition and Awards
Mahmoud Abbas has received a wide array of international honors reflecting his diplomatic reach.
- **Russian Federation:** Order of Friendship.
- **Dominican Republic:** Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella.
- **Venezuela:** Order of Francisco de Miranda.
- **Algeria:** National Order of Merit and the Medal of Friends of the Algerian Revolution (established June 30, 1987).
- **Kuwait:** Order of Mubarak the Great.
- **Lebanon:** Order of Merit.
- **Tunisia:** Order of the Republic.
- **Romania:** Order of the Star of Romania.
- **Maldives:** Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin.
- **United Arab Emirates:** Order of Zayed.
- **Syria:** Order of the Umayyads.
- **Mauritania:** National Order of Merit.
- **Academic Honors:** Honorary doctor of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and honorary doctor of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia.

### Global Identity and Digital Presence
Mahmoud Abbas maintains a significant digital footprint and is indexed in numerous international databases.
- **Official Website:** https://president.ps
- **Social Media:** He is active on platforms such as Twitter/X (@president_abbas) and has profiles on Instagram and Facebook.
- **Identifiers:** He is associated with various identifiers including ISNI (0000000114559356), VIAF (118583035), and GND (124934730). His Wikidata ID is Q127998.
- **Aliases:** He is also known as Mahmud Abbas and Abu Mazen.
- **Media:** His image and signature are cataloged in public archives, with files such as "Mahmoud Abbas May 2018.jpg" and "M Z Abbas Signature.png" available.

### Historical Context and Statehood
Abbas's leadership coincides with the modern era of the State of Palestine, which was officially declared on November 15, 1988, via the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in Algiers. The state, located in West Asia, has a de jure capital in East Jerusalem and a de facto administrative capital in Ramallah. Under his presidency, the Palestinian Authority has functioned as the executive body, while the Palestinian Legislative Council serves as the legislature. The state is recognized as a sovereign entity with limited recognition, maintaining observer status at the UN and full membership in organizations like the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

## References

1. RIA Novosti
2. Integrated Authority File
3. [Honorary Doctorates. Moscow State Institute of International Relations](https://english.mgimo.ru/worldwide/doctorates)
4. [Source](https://www.joradp.dz/FTP/JO-ARABE/2014/A2014073.pdf?znjo=73)
5. CiNii Research
6. [Biography of the President](https://www.president.ps/eng/officialresume.aspx)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. [Source](http://www.passia.org/personalities/5)
10. BBC Things
11. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
12. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Mahmoud_Abbas-PZ5RV)
13. YouTube API
14. [OpenSanctions](https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/Q127998)