Palestinian Fatah supporters welcome Mahmud Abbas (portraits) in the southern West Bank city of Hebron on November 8, 2009. Abbas, who was elected at the head of the Palestinian Authority in 2005, announced earlier this week that he will not seek re-election in January polls. Palestinian officials had said that the Palestinian leader's decision was motivated by his disappointment with US efforts to halt Israeli settlement construction, which he had said must happen before the resumption of peace talks with Israel. Getty Images logo Getty Images 2 weeks ago

Palestinian Fatah supporters welcome Mahmud Abbas (portraits) in the southern West Bank city of Hebron on November 8, 2009. Abbas, who was elected at the head of the Palestinian Authority in 2005, announced earlier this week that he will not seek re-election in January polls. Palestinian officials had said that the Palestinian leader's decision was motivated by his disappointment with US efforts to halt Israeli settlement construction, which he had said must happen before the resumption of peace talks with Israel.

More Photos of

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (L) speaks during a press conference with chief Palestinian negotaitor Saeb Erakat (R) after he met with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in Amman on November 17, 2009.
  2. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (L) meets with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in Amman on November 17, 2009.
  3. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (L) meets with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in Amman on November 17, 2009.
  4. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas speaks during a press conference after a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo on November 17, 2009. The leaders centered their talk on the situation in the Palestinian territories and the Arab peace initiative after last week�s Arab League meeting.
  5. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas (R) and chief negotiator Saeb Erakat (L) hold a press conference after a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo on November 17, 2009. The leaders centered their talk on the situation in the Palestinian territories and the Arab peace initiative after last week�s Arab League meeting.
  6. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) meets with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmud Abbas (L) in Cairo on November 17, 2009. The leaders centered their talk on the situation in the Palestinian territories and the Arab peace initiative after last week�s Arab League meeting.
  7. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (R) meets with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmud Abbas (L) in Cairo on November 17, 2009. The leaders centered their talk on the situation in the Palestinian territories and the Arab peace initiative after last week�s Arab League meeting.
  8. A boy wearing the traditional chequered keffiyeh stands between portraits of Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas during a rally held on November 15, 2009 in the West Bank village of Beit Furik, near Nablus, to mark the symbolic declaration of independence. The Palestinians intend to ask the UN Security Council to recognise their independence, a senior official said amid mounting frustration with the stalled peace process. In reaction, Israeli hardline Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau said that if the Palestinians took unilateral steps, Israel should annex the parts of the West Bank that contain major Jewish settlement blocs.
  9. Palestinian children attend a mock trial of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmud Abbas over his initial failure to press for the adoption of the UN Goldstone report, in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, on October 12, 2009. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas defended his controversial decision to support deferring a vote on a damning Gaza war report at the UN Human Rights Council. In a televised address, the embattled president also accused the rival Hamas movement of leading the storm of criticism at the decision as a means to postpone a long-delayed Palestinian reconciliation deal. Abbas said the Palestinian delegation at the Geneva-based council backed the October 2 postponement of a vote on the so-called Goldstone report which was highly critical of Israel in order to gather maximum support for the measure.
  10. Palestinian children attend a mock trial of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmud Abbas over his initial failure to press for the adoption of the UN Goldstone report, in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, on October 12, 2009. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas defended his controversial decision to support deferring a vote on a damning Gaza war report at the UN Human Rights Council. In a televised address, the embattled president also accused the rival Hamas movement of leading the storm of criticism at the decision as a means to postpone a long-delayed Palestinian reconciliation deal. Abbas said the Palestinian delegation at the Geneva-based council backed the October 2 postponement of a vote on the so-called Goldstone report which was highly critical of Israel in order to gather maximum support for the measure.
  11. Palestinian children attend a mock trial of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmud Abbas over his initial failure to press for the adoption of the UN Goldstone report, in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, on October 12, 2009. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas defended his controversial decision to support deferring a vote on a damning Gaza war report at the UN Human Rights Council. In a televised address, the embattled president also accused the rival Hamas movement of leading the storm of criticism at the decision as a means to postpone a long-delayed Palestinian reconciliation deal. Abbas said the Palestinian delegation at the Geneva-based council backed the October 2 postponement of a vote on the so-called Goldstone report which was highly critical of Israel in order to gather maximum support for the measure.
  12. In this photo released by the Palestinian Authority, U.S. Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, left, shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, at Abbas' headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009. In Jerusalem, there were scattered clashes Friday in the city between police and Muslim protesters. Several protesters and policemen were lightly hurt. The friction, in which no one has been seriously injured, appears to have been sparked by rumors among Palestinians about an attempt by Jewish extremists to harm the Islamic holy sites in the compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.
  13. Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas speaks to media after a meeting with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa on October 4, 2009. Abbas, whose authority has faced a backlash at home and a split among Arab ranks after it backed a UN decision to delay a vote on a report accusing Israel of war crimes in the Gaza Strip, is on an official visit to Yemen.
  14. Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas attends an executive committee meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah on September 30, 2009. Rival Palestinian factions will meet in Egypt in October for talks aimed at reaching a national reconciliation agreement, Hamas supremo leader Khaled Meshaal said in Cairo on September 28. The exiled leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement was in Cairo for talks with officials over Egyptian proposals to reconcile Hamas with the secular Fatah party of president Mahmud Abbas.
  15. A Palestinian youth peeps through a hole on the other side of Israel's separation barrier during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank village Nilin on November 20, 2009. The Israeli army arrested five members of the Palestinian Authority's intelligence services in the northern West Bank city of Salfit, Palestinian security sources said.
  16. Palestinian youths carry a man wounded by a live bullet during clashes with Israeli soldiers near Israel�s separation barrier in the West Bank village Nilin on November 20, 2009. The Israeli army arrested five members of the Palestinian Authority's intelligence services in the northern West Bank city of Salfit, Palestinian security sources said.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Boston Bruins right wing Michael Ryder and Marco Sturm (L) celebrate Ryder's goal against Ottawa Senators goalie Brian Elliott in second period action during their NHL hockey game in Boston, Massachusetts November 28, 2009.
  2. Linesman Derek Amell (75) gets caught between New York Rangers Donald Brashear (L) and Pittsburgh Penguins Matt Cooke (R) during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 28, 2009.
  3. Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby watches as fans throw their caps onto the ice after he scored a hat trick against the New York Rangers during the third period of their NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania November 28, 2009.
  4. Soldiers guard the surroundings of the Brazilian embassy where ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has holed up in Tegucigalpa November 28, 2009. Honduras chooses a new president on Sunday but neither Zelaya nor arch-rival Roberto Micheletti, the country's de facto leader, are running in the election, which could give a new president the chance to take Honduras beyond the political gridlock that has divided the Central American nation and cut off international aid.
  5. BUFFALO, NY - NOVEMBER 28: Derek Roy, Clarke MacArthur #41 and Andrej Sekera #44 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrate MacArthur's goal in the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes at HSBC Arena on November 28, 2009 in Buffalo, New York.
  6. TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 28: Running back Lindsey Lamar #5 of the South Florida Bulls runs the ball against the Miami Hurricanes during the game at Raymond James Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Tampa, Florida.
  7. TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 28: Receiver Carlton Mitchell #2 of the South Florida Bulls runs after a reception against the Miami Hurricanes during the game at Raymond James Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Tampa, Florida.
  8. TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 28: Defensive tackle Terrell McClain #97 of the South Florida Bulls tries to block a pass from quarterback Jacory Harris #12 of the Miami Hurricanes during the game at Raymond James Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Tampa, Florida.
  9. TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 28: Fans of the Miami Hurricanes against the South Florida Bulls during the game at Raymond James Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Tampa, Florida.
  10. TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 28: Defensive end George Selvie #10 of the South Florida Bulls lines up against the Miami Hurricanes during the game at Raymond James Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Tampa, Florida.
  11. Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro reacts as he plays Sweden's Robin Soderling during their ATP World Tour Finals semifinal tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Saturday Nov. 28, 2009.
  12. Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro reacts as he plays Sweden's Robin Soderling during their ATP World Tour Finals semifinal tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Saturday Nov. 28, 2009.
  13. Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro reacts as he plays Sweden's Robin Soderling during their ATP World Tour Finals semifinal tennis match at the O2 Arena in London, Saturday Nov. 28, 2009.
  14. LaSalle's Aaric Murray,top, and Villanova's Antonio Pena chase a loose ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Villanova, Pa.
  15. France's Nicolas Mas challenges for the ball during thier international rugby union test match against New Zealand, at Marseille stadium, southern France, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009.
  16. Sevilla's Fernando Navarro from Spain, behind, fights for the ball with Malaga's Fernando Miguel from Spain, during their La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009.