Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, has returned to the West Bank after securing non-voting observer status for Palestine at the United Nations.
Though thousands took to the streets of Ramallah to greet him, Abbas does face stiff challenges from both Hamas in Gaza and Israel.
Khaled Meshal, leader of Hamas, is set to make his first trip to the Gaza Strip only days after Abbas' return. Meshal too will come back victorious following Israel's eight-day air strikes into the enclave.
For its part, Israel has imposed has harshly punished Palestine for what Tel Aviv calls a "unilateral" action at the UN, including calls for new settlement in East Jerusalem.
Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston reports from Ramallah.
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