Mahmoud Abbas

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Mahmoud Abbas

Role / Field:

Palestinian politician, President of Palestine since 2005, and leader of the PLO.

Born:

1935-11-15

Century / Era:

1935s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Mahmoud Rida Abbas (Arabic: مَحْمُود عَبَّاس, romanized: Maḥmūd ʿAbbās; born 15 November 1935), also known by the kunya Abu Mazen (Arabic: أَبُو مَازِن, ʾAbū Māzin), is a Palestinian politician who has been serving as the second president of Palestine and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) since 2005. He has also been the fourth chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) since 2004. Abbas is also a member of the Fatah party and was elected the party's chairman in 2009. Abbas was elected on 9 January 2005 to serve as President of the Palestinian National Authority until 15 January 2009, but extended his term until the next election (initially scheduled for 2010), citing the PLO constitution, and on 16 December 2009 was voted into office indefinitely by the PLO Central Council. As a result, Fatah's main rival, Hamas, initially announced that it would not recognize the extension or view Abbas as the rightful president.

Career & Major Achievements

Nonetheless, Abbas is internationally recognized in his positions and Hamas and Fatah conducted numerous negotiations in the following years, leading to an agreement in April 2014 for a Unity Government (which lasted until October 2016) and to the recognition of his office by Hamas. Abbas was chosen to continue serving as president by the PLO Central Council on 23 November 2008. Abbas served as the first prime minister of the Palestinian Authority from March to September 2003. Before being named prime minister, Abbas led the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department. Abbas has been subject to both criticism and controversy, having been accused of corruption, as well as distorting Jewish history and engaging in Holocaust trivialization.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Abbas was a key player in negotiations for peace and in talks laying the groundwork for the Israel–Palestine two-state solution. Mahmoud Rida Abbas was born on 15 November 1935 in Safed, in the Galilee region of Mandatory Palestine (now Israel). His family fled to Syria during the 1948 Palestine war. Before going to Egypt, Abbas graduated from the University of Damascus, where he studied law. Abbas later entered graduate studies at the Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow, where he earned a Candidate of Sciences degree (the Soviet equivalent of a PhD).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1935 (1935-11-15): Birth of Mahmoud Abbas — Palestinian politician, President of Palestine since 2005, and leader of the PLO.
2. 1948: 1948 Milestone — His family fled to Syria during the 1948 Palestine war.
3. 2003: 2003 Milestone — Abbas served as the first prime minister of the Palestinian Authority from March to September 2003.
4. 2004: 2004 Milestone — He has also been the fourth chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) since 2004.
5. 2005: 2005 Milestone — Abbas was elected on 9 January 2005 to serve as President of the Palestinian National Authority until 15 January 2009, but extended his term until the next election (initially scheduled for 2010), citing the PLO constitution, and on 16 December 2009 was voted into office indefinitely by the PLO Central Council.
6. 2008: 2008 Milestone — Abbas was chosen to continue serving as president by the PLO Central Council on 23 November 2008.
7. 2009: 2009 Milestone — Abbas is also a member of the Fatah party and was elected the party's chairman in 2009.
8. 2014: 2014 Milestone — Nonetheless, Abbas is internationally recognized in his positions and Hamas and Fatah conducted numerous negotiations in the following years, leading to an agreement in April 2014 for a Unity Government (which lasted until October 2016) and to the recognition of his office by Hamas.

Notable Quotes by Mahmoud Abbas

“[...] because we took up arms, we were in a position to put them down with credibility.” (2012)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Mahmoud Abbas

True or False: “Mahmoud Abbas was the signatory for the PLO on the Oslo I Accord on September 13, 1993.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The text explicitly states that in the Oslo I Accord, Abbas was the signatory for the PLO on September 13, 1993.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 14th Dalai Lama — Contemporary (Born in 1935) (1935): Spiritual leader of Tibet and head of Tibetan Buddhism since 1940.
• Abdou Diouf — Contemporary (Born in 1935) (1935): Senegalese politician who served as President of Senegal from 1981 to 2000.
• Abraham Isaac Kook — Contemporary (Died in 1935) (1935): Pioneering Orthodox Rabbi and Father of Religious Zionism.
• 6th Dalai Lama — Shared historical date (11-15 · Died) (1706): The 6th Dalai Lama, a spiritual figure known for his unconventional lifestyle and profound influence in Tibet.
• Adolfo Pedernera — Shared historical date (11-15 · Born) (1918): Argentine football legend, nicknamed 'El Maestro,' pivotal in the 1940s.
• Adnan Khashoggi — Historical peer (Born in 1935) (1935): Saudi businessman and arms dealer, known as 'The Great Gatsby of the Middle East'
• Agha Hashar Kashmiri — Historical peer (Died in 1935) (1935): Pioneering Urdu poet, playwright, and dramatist known for Shakespearean adaptations.
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Historical peer (Died in 2005) (2005): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• Akira Yoshizawa — Historical peer (Died in 2005) (2005): Japanese origamist, credited with elevating origami from a mere craft to a recognized living art.
• A. A. K. Niazi — Historical peer (Died in 2004) (2004): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• 1935 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1935
• November 15 (11-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 15

Frequently Asked Questions about Mahmoud Abbas