Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations released its English Annual Palestinian Strategic Report for 2005. The report explains, discusses and analyses the events that took place during 2005, and pursues their developments. Its primary objective is to assess the Palestinian situation on regular basis through a rigorous study of its various aspects, i.e., internal political affairs, economic development, the educational system, demographic indicators, the Arab-Islamic and international positions and the Israeli attitudes and policies, all within an academic, well-documented context that is supported with the most recent statistical data.

The "Palestinian Strategic Report 2005" is a product of a massive team-work exerted by a group of affiliated researchers and specialists; Prof. Ahmad Sa'id Nawfal, Dr. 'Amr Sa'dawi, Dr. Ra'id Nu'ayrat, Dr. Salman Abu Sitta, Dr. Muhammad Miqdad and Dr. Ibrahim Abu Jabir and above all the its editors, Dr. Basheer Nafi' and Dr. Mohsen Moh'd Saleh, and consultative editors, Prof. Dr. 'Abd al-Wahhab al-Misiri, Prof. Dr. Anis al-Sayigh, and Mr. Munir Shafiq.

In 257 pages, and eight chapters, the report studies the various issues related to the Palestinian issue; the internal Palestinian scene and the Israeli-Palestinian scene; the Arab, Muslim, and International Setting and interaction with the Palestinian issue; the Palestinian demographic indicators, the economic situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the education in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It is not only concerned with recording events, but also with analyzing and assessing developments, and scrutinizing the texts involved. It also strives to investigate the wider context of the relevant events, developments, and scenarios.

The importance of this report comes from three main reasons; the first reason is the topic itself, i.e. the Palestinian issue, its central position in the Arab and Islamic worlds, and its worldwide complications and reflections; second, it is among the few highly academic and objective writings in its field in English by an Arab research centre; third and most important, is the fact that the report presents comprehensive, up-to-date and documented data and analysis regarding the Palestinian issue, and thus covers up for the existing deficiency in this field, and establishes the ground for serious academic research.