Fatah

Fatah (Arabic: حركة فتح) is a Palestinian political movement and party. It was founded in the late 1950s, with Yasser Arafat and his associates among its founders. The name 'Fatah' is an Arabic word meaning 'opening' or 'conquest', and is also a reverse acronym derived from 'Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini' (Palestinian National Liberation Movement).

From the 1960s onward, Fatah became the largest faction within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and most PLO leaders have come from Fatah. Fatah also formed the basis of the Palestinian Authority, established through the Oslo Accords.

Founding and armed struggle

Fatah's founding members came together in Kuwait and other Gulf locations, where many Palestinians had found work after 1948. The founding idea was that Palestinians themselves should lead their own struggle, rather than relying on Arab states. Fatah began armed operations in the early 1960s, with activity accelerating significantly after the 1967 war.

Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia

After 1967, Fatah established bases in Jordan. Tensions with the Jordanian government led to the leadership and military forces being expelled in the early 1970s, after which they relocated to Lebanon. Following Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982, PLO and Fatah leadership were relocated to Tunisia.

Oslo and the Palestinian Authority

The Oslo Accords of 1993–1995 allowed Fatah leadership to return to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian Authority was established. Yasser Arafat became the first president. After his death in 2004, Mahmoud Abbas was elected, serving as leader of both Fatah and the PLO.

Hamas conflict and present situation

In the 2006 parliamentary elections, Hamas won a significant number of seats, leading to armed conflict and administrative division: Hamas took control of Gaza, while Fatah leads the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Multiple attempts at mediation have not fully restored political unity.