Fatah

Political party

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Abbreviation
Leader	Mahmoud Abbas
President
Chairwoman
Secretary
General Secretary

Fatah (Arabic: فتح‎ Fatḥ) is a major Palestinian political party and the largest faction of the confederated multi-party Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Founded in 1959 by Yasser Arafat and other Palestinian exiles, Fatah has been a leading force in Palestinian politics and has played a significant role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

History

Fatah was established in the late 1950s by Palestinian expatriates, including Yasser Arafat, who sought to create an independent Palestinian state. The movement officially announced its existence on January 1, 1965, with a military operation against Israel, marking the beginning of its armed struggle.

In 1967, following the Six-Day War, Fatah gained prominence as the leading Palestinian faction and took control of the PLO in 1969. Under Arafat's leadership, Fatah adopted a strategy of armed struggle combined with political efforts to achieve Palestinian self-determination.

Ideology

Fatah's ideology is rooted in Palestinian nationalism and the belief in the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. It advocates for a two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Fatah has traditionally supported secularism and social democracy, distinguishing itself from more religiously oriented groups like Hamas.

Political Influence

Fatah has been the dominant party in Palestinian politics for decades. It led the PLO and was the driving force behind the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, which established the Palestinian Authority (PA) and granted limited self-governance to Palestinians in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In 2006, Fatah lost the Palestinian legislative elections to Hamas, leading to a political split between the two factions. Despite this setback, Fatah remains influential, particularly in the West Bank, where it controls the PA.

Leadership

Fatah's leadership has been characterized by its long association with Yasser Arafat, who led the movement until his death in 2004. Since then, Mahmoud Abbas has been the leader of Fatah and the President of the Palestinian Authority.

Challenges

Fatah faces several challenges, including internal divisions, corruption allegations, and competition with Hamas. The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the stalled peace process also pose significant obstacles to Fatah's goals.

Also see

• Palestine Liberation Organization
• Yasser Arafat
• Mahmoud Abbas
• Oslo Accords
• Hamas
• Palestinian Authority