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The article discusses why the Palestinian Authority (PA) is facing its most serious internal challenge since it was established in 1994. A violent showdown in the Gaza Strip between competing nationalist factions has threatened to destroy the PA and domestic security after four years of uprising against Israel. The turmoil represents a critical danger, not just for Palestinian society and its dreams of a unified state, but also for Israel's plan to disengage unilaterally from Gaza. If Israel implements Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip in 2005, Palestinian society will fragment even more, lose the benefit of unified representation, and possibly lapse into bloody infighting. But it is not too late to change course: holding Palestinian national elections before Israel's withdrawal could prevent chaos and help establish the foundations for a democratic Palestinian state committed to peaceful relations with Israel. For all the hope that elections offer, conditions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are not now conducive to holding them: the ongoing violence would make it difficult for voters to reach the ballot box. Palestinian factions must reach an understanding on a complete cease-fire during the election period. The U.S. and other international actors must ensure that the Palestinians and Israel implement their election-related commitments.

Focuses on the strategies in constructing the Israeli and Palestinian identity. Recognition on the national traits and identity; Factors contributing to parallel strategies in the construction of identity; Differences in contemporary developments and Western experiences.

Examines the socio-psychological and political significance of borders in Israeli identity. Notion of unilateral separation from Palestinians; Demarcation lines between Israelis and Palestinians; Application on the concept of culturalism.

Editorial. Focuses on the issue of national identity between Palestine and Israel. Definition of national identity; Activities inherent to the construction of national identity; Conflict in national identity.

Pays tribute to the late Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) founder Yasser Arafat. Role of the PLO in the modern practice of terrorism and national consciousness of the Palestinians; Factors that contributed to the failure of Arafat in using the power given by Israel to govern the Occupied Territories to eliminate terrorist groups within the Palestinian society; Impact of the death of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on Arafat and on the Palestinians.

The article reports on the gathering of thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel in the western Galilee for the annual March of Return on April 26, 2012. The gathering coincided with the annual Israeli "Independence Day" celebrations and the march ended on land belonging to Kweikat village. According to psychologist Siwar Aslih, it is a very unique march. According to the author, there was a very strong spirit of positive Palestinian cultural nationalism throughout the day.

The article discusses the book "Israel & Palestine: Why They Fight and Can They Stop?," by Bernard Wasserstein. This book challenges the conventional view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as driven primarily by irrational, nationalist and religious ideologies. It focuses on hitherto relatively neglected dimensions--population, land, labour, and the social dynamics of political change. It maintains that Israelis and Palestinians live today in "Siamese twin societies." However much they may wish to, neither side can escape the impinging presence and influence of the other.