New Dynamics in the Middle East

For the Palestinian Territories the year 2011 was first and foremost marked by the events of the so-called “Arab Spring”. Although there has been no overthrow of the political regime or even mass demonstrations in either the West Bank or the Gaza Strip for that matter, the “Arab Spring” had a significant impact. Neither would there have been the (so far unsuccessful) attempts of reuniting both territories nor would the release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held hostage by the Islamist Hamas, have taken place, if it were not for the upheavals in Egypt.