On Thursday in Jerusalem, a Palestinian gunman entered a seminary and started shooting, leaving eight students dead and many more wounded. Hamas leaders claimed responsibility for the attack the next day, although Mahmoud Abbas was quick to condemn the attacks. Ehud Olmert was under pressure from his countrymen to respond quickly, although such a response was discouraged by President Bush and the United Nations. Peace talks between the two remain suspended.
Did you have any trouble following that? If you did, don't worry. You aren't alone in having trouble following the insanity in the Middle East. While no article could take on the daunting task of explaining the convoluted history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, a simple glossary might be enough to help keep things in check. This list will help you sound more informed on the situation and impress your friends at the same time. In fact, armed with this knowledge, you might be able to successfully debate Barack Obama on the subject. (Ha! Only kidding!)
Mahmoud Abbas - Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority and chairman of the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization). As head of the PNA, Abbas is effectively the face of Palestine and seen as a moderate. He is a member of the Fatah party.
Fatah - a reverse acronym from Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini (Arabic, "Palestinian National Liberation Movement"). Fatah is the largest faction of the PLO and was the ruling party in the Palestinian National Authority until 2006. They are seen as more moderate than Hamas, though their militant wing is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
Gaza Strip - a small strip of land in the southwest of Israel (bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and Egypt) named for its principal city of Gaza. The Gaza Strip was administered by Israel until 2005, when the Palestinian National Authority assumed control. Hamas currently oversees the territory, which is home to about 1.4 million Palestinians. A major battle was fought for the territory in 2007.
Hamas - an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Arabic, "Islamic Resistance Movement"). Hamas is a militant movement dedicated to the destruction of Israel and replacing it with a Palestinian state. It is recognized as a terrorist organization by many major world powers. Hamas was elected as the government of the Palestinian Authority following elections in 2006. Like the PLO, Hamas is seen as the extremist wing of the Palestinian movement.
Ehud Olmert - Prime Minister of Israel. He had been Acting Prime Minister since his predecessor, Ariel Sharon, suffered a stroke. He has been involved in peace negotiations with Mahmoud Abbas, though those talks are currently suspended.
PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) - an organization dedicated to the destruction of the state of Israel. Yasser Arafat headed this group from 1974 until his death in 2004, when Abbas succeeded him. The PLO has been designated as a terrorist organization and is often associated with the extremist image of Palestine.
Palestinian National Authority - Palestine does not currently exist as a country, but it does have an interim government administering parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Mahmoud Abbas is the Prime Minister of the Authority, though Hamas is the ruling party.
West Bank - an area currently occupied by Israel containing Jericho, Bethlehem, and East Jerusalem. Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan during the Six-Day War in 1967, though Jordan did not relinquish its claim to the area until 1988. Most of the West Bank's residents are Palestinian, though there are many Israeli settlements as well.
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