Fatah
Fatah (Arabic: فتح, romanized: Fatḥ), formerly the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (حركة التحرير الوطني الفلسطيني, Ḥarakat al-Taḥrīr al-Waṭanī l-Filasṭīnī), is a Palestinian nationalist and social democratic political party. It is the largest faction of the confederated multi-party Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the second-largest party in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, is the chairman of Fatah.
Fatah فتح | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Mahmoud Abbas |
| Secretary-General | Jibril Rajoub |
| Vice Chairman | Mahmoud Aloul |
| Founders |
|
| Founded |
|
| Headquarters | Ramallah, West Bank |
| Youth wing | Fatah Youth |
| Paramilitary wing | al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades (until 2007) |
| Ideology |
|
| Political position | Centre-left to left-wing |
| National affiliation | Palestine Liberation Organization |
| European affiliation | Party of European Socialists (observer) |
| International affiliation |
|
| Colors | Yellow |
| Slogan |
|
| Palestinian Legislative Council | 45 / 132 |
| Flag | |
| Website | |
| fatehmedia.ps | |
| |
| Fatah | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Ramallah, West Bank |
| Allies | State allies: |
| Opponents | Non-state opponents:
Former state opponents
|
| Battles and wars |
|
Fatah is generally considered to have had a strong involvement in revolutionary struggle in the past and has maintained a number of militant groups. Fatah had been closely identified with the leadership of its founder and chairman, Yasser Arafat, until his death in 2004, when Farouk Kaddoumi constitutionally succeeded him to the position of Fatah Chairman and continued in the position until 2009, when Abbas was elected chairman. Since Arafat's death, factionalism within the ideologically diverse movement has become more apparent.
In the 2006 election for the PLC, the party lost its majority in the PLC to Hamas. The Hamas legislative victory led to a conflict between Fatah and Hamas, with Fatah retaining control of the Palestinian National Authority in the West Bank through its president. Fatah is also active in the control of Palestinian refugee camps.