Editing Fatah (section)

==History==
===Establishment===
[[File:Yasser-arafat-1999.jpg|thumb|[[Yasser Arafat]] was the primary founder of Fatah and its leader until his 2004 death.]]

The Fatah movement was founded in 1959 by members of the [[Palestinian diaspora]], principally by professionals working in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf States]], especially [[Sheikhdom of Kuwait|Kuwait]] (then a British protectorate) where the founders [[Salah Khalaf]], [[Khalil al-Wazir]], [[Yasser Arafat]] resided. The founders had studied in [[Cairo]] or [[Beirut]] and had been refugees in [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]]. Salah Khalaf and Khalil al-Wazir were official members of the [[Muslim Brotherhood]]. [[Yasser Arafat]] had previously been head of the [[General Union of Palestinian Students]] (GUPS) at the [[Cairo University]] (1952–1956), whilst another co-founder, [[Khaled Yashruti]], then a 22-year-old student, was the GUPS head in Beirut.{{sfn|Aburish|1998|pp=41–90}} Upon founding, Arafat summoned [[Mahmud Abbas]] (who was residing in [[Qatar]], then a British protectorate) to join.<ref name="myth">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/behindmyth00andr |url-access=registration |last1=Gowers |first1=Andrew |first2=Tony |last2=Walker |title=Behind the Myth: Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Revolution |year=1991 |location=New York |publisher=[[Olive Branch Press]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/behindmyth00andr/page/65 65] |isbn=978-0-940793-86-6}}</ref> The group of Gulf-based young Palestinian professionals were the core of Fatah in its early days of existence.<ref name="myth"/> Fatah espoused a Palestinian nationalist ideology in which [[Palestinians|Palestinian Arabs]] would be liberated by their own actions.

Immediately after its establishment the name of the movement was first used in ''[[Falastinuna]]'' which was the official media organ of the Fatah.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Shemesh|first=Moshe|title=The Fida'iyyun Organization's Contribution to the Descent to the Six-Day War|journal=Israel Studies| volume=11|issue=1|year=2006|doi=10.2979/isr.2006.11.1.1|page=3|s2cid=145315984  |issn = 1084-9513 }}</ref>

===1967–1993===
Fatah became the dominant force in Palestinian politics after the [[Six-Day War]] in 1967.

Fatah joined the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO) in 1967, and was allocated 33 of 105 seats in the [[Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO Executive Committee]]. Fatah's Yasser Arafat became [[Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization|Chairman of the PLO]] in 1969, after the position was ceded to him by [[Yahya Hammuda]].{{sfn|Aburish|1998|pp=41–90}} According to the [[BBC]], "Mr Arafat took over as chairman of the executive committee of the PLO in 1969, a year that Fatah is recorded to have carried out 2,432 [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] attacks on Israel."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/middle_east/israel_and_the_palestinians/profiles/1371998.stm |title=Fatah: Political heavyweight floored |work=BBC News|access-date=7 January 2007|date=4 August 2009}}</ref>

====Battle of Karameh====
{{main|Battle of Karameh}}
[[File:Operation Inferno. XXI.jpg|thumb|Israeli troops in combat in Karameh]]
Throughout 1968, Fatah and other Palestinian armed groups were the target of a major [[Israeli Defense Forces]] (IDF) operation in the Jordanian village of [[Karameh]], where the Fatah headquarters{{spaced ndash}}as well as a mid-sized [[Palestinian refugees|Palestinian refugee camp]]{{spaced ndash}}were located. The town's name is the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word for "dignity", which elevated its [[symbol]]ism to the Arab people, especially after the Arab defeat in 1967. The operation was in response to attacks against Israel, including rockets strikes from Fatah and other Palestinian militias into the occupied West Bank. Knowledge of the operation was available well ahead of time, and the government of Jordan (as well as a number of Fatah commandos) informed Arafat of Israel's large-scale military preparations. Upon hearing the news, many guerrilla groups in the area, including [[George Habash]]'s newly formed group the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine]] (PFLP) and [[Nayef Hawatmeh]]'s breakaway organization the [[Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine]] (DFLP), withdrew their forces from the town. Fatah leaders were advised by a pro-Fatah Jordanian divisional commander to withdraw their men and headquarters to nearby hills, but on Arafat's orders, Fatah remained, and the [[Royal Jordanian Army|Jordanian Army]] agreed to back them if heavy fighting ensued.{{sfn|Aburish|1998|pp=41–90}}

On the night of 21 March, the IDF attacked Karameh with heavy weaponry, armored vehicles and fighter jets.{{sfn|Aburish|1998|pp=41–90}} Fatah held its ground, surprising the Israeli military. As Israel's forces intensified their campaign, the Jordanian Army became involved, causing the Israelis to retreat in order to avoid a full-scale war.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bulloch|first=John|title=Final Conflict|year=1983|publisher=Faber Publishing|page=165|isbn=978-0-7126-0171-9|oclc=9803075}}</ref> By the end of the battle, nearly 150 Fatah militants had been killed, as well as twenty Jordanian soldiers and twenty-eight Israeli soldiers. Despite the higher Arab death toll, Fatah considered themselves victorious because of the Israeli army's rapid withdrawal.{{sfn|Aburish|1998|pp=41–90}}

====Black September====
{{further|Black September}}
In the late 1960s, tensions between Palestinians and the Jordanian government increased greatly; heavily armed Arab resistance elements had created a virtual "state within a state" in Jordan, eventually controlling several strategic positions in that country. After their victory in the Battle of Karameh, Fatah and other Palestinian militias began taking control of civil life in Jordan. They set up roadblocks, publicly humiliated Jordanian police forces, molested women and levied illegal taxes – all of which Arafat either condoned or ignored.<ref>Sayigh, Yezid (1997). Armed Struggle and the Search for State, the Palestinian National Movement, 1949–1993. Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-19-829643-0}}. {{OCLC|185547145}}.</ref>{{sfn|Aburish|1998|p=100–112}}

In 1970, the Jordanian government moved to regain control over its territory, and the next day,{{dubious|The next day after 1970? Wow, THAT fast?!|date=July 2019}} [[Hussein of Jordan|King Hussein]] declared [[martial law]].{{sfn|Aburish|1998|p=100–112}} By 25 September, the Jordanian army achieved dominance in the fighting, and two days later Arafat and Hussein agreed to a series of ceasefires. The Jordanian army inflicted heavy casualties upon the Palestinians – including civilians – who suffered approximately 3,500 fatalities. Two thousand Fatah fighters managed to enter [[Syria]]. They crossed the border into Lebanon to join Fatah forces in that country, where they set up their new headquarters. A large group of guerrilla fighters led by Fatah field commander [[Abu Ali Iyad]] held out the Jordanian Army's offensive in the northern city of [[Ajloun|Ajlun]] until they were decisively defeated in July 1971. Abu Ali Iyad was executed and surviving members of his commando force formed the [[Black September Organization]], a splinter group of Fatah. In November 1971, the group assassinated Jordanian prime minister [[Wasfi al-Tal]] as retaliation to Abu Ali Iyad's execution.<ref>Seale, 1992, pp.81–82.</ref>

In the 1960s and the 1970s, Fatah provided training to a wide range of European, Middle Eastern, Asian, and African militant and insurgent groups, and carried out numerous attacks against Israeli targets in Western Europe and the Middle East during the 1970s. Some militant groups that affiliated themselves to Fatah, and some of the ''fedayeen'' within Fatah itself, carried out civilian-[[aircraft hijacking]]s and terrorist attacks, attributing them to Black September, [[Abu Nidal]]'s [[Abu Nidal Organization|Fatah-Revolutionary Council]], [[Said al-Muragha|Abu Musa]]'s group, the PFLP, and the PFLP-GC.{{dubious|Means what, freelancers did it an "atributed" it to whom they liked best/hated most?|date=July 2019}} Fatah received weapons, explosives and training from the [[Soviet Union]] and some of the [[communist state]]s of [[East Europe]]. [[China]] and [[Algeria]] also provided munitions.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} In 1979, Fatah aided [[Uganda]] during the [[Uganda–Tanzania War]]. Members of the organization fought alongside the [[Uganda Army (1971–1980)|Uganda Army]] and Libyan troops against the [[Tanzania People's Defence Force]] during the [[Battle of Lukaya]] and the [[Fall of Kampala]], but were eventually forced to retreat from the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://al-akhbar.com/Opinion/226891 |title= مهمة "فتح" في أوغندا  |trans-title=Fatah's mission in Uganda |author=Janan Osama al-Salwadi |work=Al Akhbar (Lebanon) |language=ar |date=27 February 2017 |access-date=6 October 2019 }}</ref>

====Lebanon====
{{further|Lebanese Civil War}}
Since the death of [[Khalil al-Jamal|Eljamal]] in 1968, the Palestinian cause had a large base of supporters in Lebanon.

Although hesitant at first to take sides in the conflict, Arafat and Fatah played an important role in the [[Lebanese Civil War]]. Succumbing to pressure from PLO sub-groups such as the PFLP, DFLP and the [[Palestine Liberation Front]] (PLF), Fatah aligned itself with the communist and [[Nasserism|Nasserist]] [[Lebanese National Movement]] (LNM). Although originally aligned with Fatah, [[President of Syria|Syrian President]] [[Hafez al-Assad]] feared a loss of influence in Lebanon and switched sides. He sent his army, along with the [[Syria]]n-backed Palestinian factions of [[as-Sa'iqa]] and the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command]] (PFLP-GC) led by [[Ahmed Jibril|Ahmad Jibril]] to fight alongside the Christian forces against the PLO and the LNM. The primary component of the Christian militias was the [[Maronite Church|Maronite]] [[Kataeb Party|Phalangists]].{{sfn|Aburish|1998|p=150–175}}

Phalangist forces killed twenty-six Fatah trainees on a bus in April 1975, marking the official start of the 15-year-long Lebanese civil war. Later that year, an alliance of Christian militias overran the Palestinian refugee camp of [[Karantina massacre|Karantina]] killing over 1,000 civilians.<ref name="Harris">{{cite book|last=Harris|first=William |title=Faces of Lebanon. Sects, Wars, and Global Extensions |url=https://archive.org/details/facesoflebanonse0000harr |url-access=registration|year=1996|publisher=Markus Wiener Publishers|pages=[https://archive.org/details/facesoflebanonse0000harr/page/162 162–165]|isbn=978-1-55876-115-5|oclc=34753518}}</ref> The PLO and LNM retaliated by attacking the town of [[Damour massacre|Damour]], a Phalangist and Tigers (Ahrar) stronghold, killing 684 civilians.{{sfn|Aburish|1998|p=150–175}} As the civil war progressed over 2 years of urban warfare, both parties resorted to massive artillery duels and heavy use of sniper nests, while atrocities and war crimes were committed by both sides.

In 1976, with strategic planning help from the Lebanese Army, the alliance of Christian militias, spearheaded by the National Liberal Party of former President Cammille Chamoun militant branch, the noumour el ahrar (NLP Tigers), took a pivotal refugee camp in the Eastern part of Beirut, the Tel al-Zaatar camp, after a six-month siege, also known as [[Siege of Tel al-Zaatar|Tel al-Zaatar massacre]] in which hundreds perished.{{refn|Disputed; in ''Faces of Lebanon. Sects, Wars, and Global Extensions'' pp. 162–165, William Harris states "Perhaps 3,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, died in the siege and its aftermath." The Lebanese-American Association<ref>[http://www.laa.org/tours/thewar.htm "The Civil War ...1975"]. Lebanese-American Association. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908233103/http://laa.org:80/tours/thewar.htm |date=8 September 2006 }}.</ref> suggests several thousand.}} Arafat and Abu Jihad blamed themselves for not successfully organizing a rescue effort.{{sfn|Aburish|1998|p=150–175}}

PLO cross-border raids against Israel grew somewhat during the late 1970s.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} One of the most severe{{spaced ndash}}known as the [[Coastal Road massacre]]{{spaced ndash}}occurred on 11 March 1978. A force of nearly a dozen Fatah fighters landed their boats near a major coastal road connecting the city of [[Haifa]] with [[Tel Aviv|Tel Aviv-Yafo]]. There they hijacked a bus and sprayed gunfire inside and at passing vehicles, killing thirty-seven civilians.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Foreign%20Relations/Israels%20Foreign%20Relations%20since%201947/1977-1979/133%20Statement%20to%20the%20press%20by%20Prime%20Minister%20Begin |title=133 Statement to the press by Prime Minister Begin on the massacre of Israelis on the Haifa – Tel Aviv Road- 12 March 1978|date=12 May 1978|publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs}}</ref> In response, the IDF launched [[1978 South Lebanon conflict|Operation Litani]] three days later, with the goal of taking control of Southern Lebanon up to the [[Litani River]]. The IDF achieved this goal, and Fatah withdrew to the north into [[Beirut]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/819200.stm|title=Time Line: Lebanon Israel Controls South|work=BBC News |date=9 October 2007|access-date=9 October 2007|publisher=BBC MMVII}}</ref>

Israel [[1982 Lebanon War|invaded Lebanon again]] in 1982. Beirut was soon besieged and bombarded by the IDF;{{sfn|Aburish|1998|p=150–175}} to end the siege, the US and European governments brokered an agreement guaranteeing safe passage for Arafat and Fatah{{spaced ndash}}guarded by a multinational force{{spaced ndash}}to exile in [[Tunis]]. Despite the exile, many Fatah commanders and fighters remained in Lebanon, and they faced the [[War of the Camps]] in the 1980s in their fight with the Shia [[Amal Movement]] and also in connection with internal schisms within the Palestinian factions.{{sfn|Aburish|1998|p=150–175}}
<!---The following recaps the above?:
When Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982, the faction was dispersed to several Middle Eastern countries with the help of US and other Western governments: [[Tunisia]], Yemen, [[Algeria]], Iraq and others. In the period 1982–1993, Fatah's leadership resided in [[Tunisia]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}
---->

===After 1993===
[[File:Bill Clinton, Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat at the White House 1993-09-13.jpg|thumb|[[Yitzhak Rabin]], [[Bill Clinton]], and [[Yasser Arafat]] during the [[Oslo Accords]] signing ceremony at the [[White House]] on 13 September 1993]]
[[File:P20220715AS-1244 (52325477560).jpg|thumb|Fatah leader [[Mahmoud Abbas]] with U.S. President [[Joe Biden]] at the Palestinian Presidential Palace in Bethlehem on 15 July 2022]]

====Presidential and legislative elections====
In the  1993–1995 [[Oslo Accords]], Fatah, as part of the [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]], made some interim agreements with Israel, including recognition of Israel by the PLO. Until his 2004 death, Arafat headed the [[Palestinian National Authority]], the provisional entity created as a result of those Oslo Accords.  Soon after Arafat's death, [[Farouk Kaddoumi]] was elected to the post, which he continues to hold.

Fatah nominated [[Mahmoud Abbas]] in the [[2005 Palestinian presidential election|Palestinian presidential election of 2005]].

In 2005, [[Hamas]] won in nearly all [[Palestinian local elections, 2004–2005|the municipalities it contested]]. Political analyst [[Salah Abdel-Shafi]] told the BBC about the difficulties of Fatah leadership: "I think it's very, very serious{{spaced ndash}}it's becoming obvious that they can't agree on anything." Fatah is "widely seen as being in desperate need of reform," as "the PA's performance has been a story of corruption and incompetence{{spaced ndash}}and Fatah has been tainted."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4386355.stm |title=Fatah faces reform crossroads|work=BBC News|access-date=7 January 2007|date=27 March 2005 |first=Alan |last=Johnston}}</ref>

====Internal discord====
<!--Deleted image removed: [[File:Marwan-barghouti.jpg|thumb|right|[[Marwan Barghouti]] is the founder of the [[Al-Mustaqbal (electoral list)|al-Mustaqbal]] political party and leader of the [[Tanzim]] and [[al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades]] {{Deletable image-caption|date=May 2012}}]]-->
In December 2005, jailed [[Second Intifada|Intifada]] leader [[Marwan Barghouti]] broke ranks with the party and announced that he had formed a new political list to run in the elections called the ''[[Al-Mustaqbal (electoral list)|al-Mustaqbal]]'' ("The Future"), mainly composed of members of Fatah's "Young Guard." These younger leaders have repeatedly expressed frustration with the entrenched corruption in the party, which has been run by the "Old Guard" who returned from exile in [[Tunisia]] following the [[Oslo Accords]]. Al-Mustaqbal was to campaign against Fatah in the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election]], presenting a list including [[Mohammed Dahlan]], [[Qadura Fares|Kadoura Fares]], Samir Mashharawi and [[Jibril Rajoub]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1134309581046&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120605010641/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1134309581046&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 June 2012|title=Fatah officials negotiate with Barghouti |work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=7 January 2007}}</ref> However, on 28 December 2005, the leadership of the two factions agreed to submit a single list to voters, headed by Barghouti, who began actively campaigning for Fatah from his jail cell.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reut-institute.org/Publication.aspx?PublicationId=1225 |title=Crisis of Representation|publisher=Reut-institute.org|access-date=2013-04-25|archive-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012085657/http://www.reut-institute.org/Publication.aspx?PublicationId=1225|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/15/international/middleeast/15cnd-mide.html?ex=1168318800&en=19dddb2093472ac9&ei=5070 |title=Main Palestinian Faction Splits Sharply Ahead of Election|work=The New York Times |access-date=7 January 2007|first=Steven|last=Erlanger|date=15 December 2005}}</ref>

There have been numerous other expressions of discontent within Fatah, which is just holding its first general congress in two decades. Because of this, the movement remains largely dominated by aging cadres from the pre-Oslo era of Palestinian politics. Several of them gained their positions through the patronage of Yasser Arafat, who balanced above the different factions, and the era after his death in 2004 has seen increased infighting among these groups, who jockey for influence over future development, the political line, funds, and constituencies. There is concern over the succession once Abbas leaves power.<ref name="CG23">{{cite web | title=Managing Palestine's Looming Leadership Transition | website=Crisis Group | date=1 Feb 2023 | url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/east-mediterranean-mena/israelpalestine/238-managing-palestines-looming-leadership-transition | access-date=5 Jul 2023}}</ref>
[[File:West Bank Access Restrictions (United Nations OCHA oPt) May 2023.jpg|thumb|[[Palestinian enclaves]] in May 2023 ([[West Bank Areas in the Oslo II Accord|Area A and B]] under the [[Oslo II Accord]]). Area A (light yellow) is exclusively administered by the Fatah-controlled [[Palestinian National Authority]].]] 
There have been no open splits within the older generation of Fatah politicians since the 1980s, though there is occasional friction between members of the top leadership. One founding member, [[Farouk Kaddoumi|Faruq al-Qaddumi]] (Abu Lutf), continues to openly oppose the post-Oslo arrangements and has intensified his campaign for a more hardline position from exile in [[Tunis]]. Since Arafat's death, he is formally head of Fatah's political bureau and chairman, but his actual political following within Fatah appears limited. He has at times openly challenged the legitimacy of Abbas and harshly criticized both him and [[Mohammed Dahlan]], but despite threats to splinter the movement, he remains in his position, and his challenges have so far been fruitless. Another influential veteran, [[Hani al-Hassan]], has also openly criticized the present leadership.

Fatah's internal conflicts have also, due to the creation of the Palestinian Authority, merged with the turf wars between different PA security services, e.g., a longstanding rivalry between the West Bank ([[Jibril Rajoub]]) and Gaza (Muhammad Dahlan) branches of the powerful Preventive Security Service. Foreign backing for different factions contribute to conflict, e.g., with the United States generally seen as supportive of Abbas's overall leadership and of Dahlan's security influence, and Syria alleged to promote Faruq al-Qaddumi's challenge to the present leadership. The younger generations of Fatah, especially within the militant [[al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]], have been more prone to splits, and a number of lesser networks in Gaza and the West Bank have established themselves as either independent organizations or joined Hamas. However, such overt breaks with the movement have still been rather uncommon, despite numerous rivalries inside and between competing local Fatah groups.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

====2009: Sixth General Assembly====
The Sixth General Assembly of the Fatah Movement began on 4 August 2009 in [[Bethlehem]], nearly 16 years after the [[Oslo I Accord]] and 20 years since the last Fatah convention, after being repeatedly postponed over conflicts ranging from representation to venue.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120708043824/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1249275691810&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull editiorial.jpost.com Fatah's goals]. Last accessed 11 August 2009.</ref> More than 2,000 delegates attended the meeting,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/08/20098435612729372.html|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] |title=Delegates gather for Fatah congress |access-date=11 August 2009}}</ref> while another 400 from the [[Gaza Strip]] were unable to attend the conference after Hamas barred them from traveling to the [[West Bank]].<ref name="Jerusalem Post"/>

The internal dissension was immediately obvious.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]] told the delegates that divisions among the Palestinians were more damaging to their cause of an independent state than the Israeli "enemy".<ref name="Jerusalem Post">{{cite news|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1249418529052&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130706010736/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1249418529052&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |url-status=dead|archive-date=6 July 2013|title=Disputes break out at Fatah conference in Bethlehem|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=5 August 2009}}</ref>

Delegates resolved not to resume [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process|Israeli-Palestinian peace talks]] until 14 preconditions were met. Among these preconditions were the release of all Israel-held Palestinian prisoners, a freeze on all [[Israeli settlement]] construction, and an end to the [[Blockade of the Gaza Strip|Gaza blockade]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/EditionFrancaise/Home.aspxservlet/Satellite?cid=1249418545003&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708225643/http://www.jpost.com/EditionFrancaise/Home.aspxservlet/Satellite?cid=1249418545003&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull|url-status=dead|title=Israel News |date=8 July 2012|archive-date=8 July 2012}}</ref>

By affirming its option for "armed resistance" against Israel, Fatah appealed to Palestinians who wanted a more hardline response to Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25897575-15084,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912144608/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25897575-15084,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2012|work=The Australian|first1=John|last1=Lyons|title=Israel to blame for Arafat death: Fatah|date=8 August 2009}}</ref>

Israeli deputy foreign minister [[Danny Ayalon]] said the conference was a "serious blow to peace" and "was another lost opportunity for the Palestinian leadership to adopt moderate views."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Arafat-assassination-accusation-irks-Israel|work=The Jerusalem Post|title=Arafat assassination accusation irks Israel|date=6 August 2009}}</ref>

====Elections to Central Committee and Revolutionary Council====
On 9 August 2009, new members of the [[Central Committee of Fatah]] and the Revolutionary Council were chosen.<ref>[http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=217680 ''Abdul-Rahim: Fatah conference 90 percent over'']. Ma'an News Agency, 9 August 2009</ref> Delegates voted to fill 18 seats on the 23-seat Central Committee, and 81 seats on the 128-seat Revolutionary Council after a week of deliberations. At least 70 new members entered the latter, with 20 seats going to Fatah representatives from the Gaza Strip, 11 seats filled by women (the highest number of votes went to one woman who spent years in Israeli jails for her role in the resistance), four seats went to Christians, and one was filled by a Jewish-born convert to Islam, [[Uri Davis]], the first Jewish-born person to be elected to the Revolutionary Council since its founding in 1958. Fatah activists from the [[Palestinian diaspora]] were also represented and included [[Samir Rifai]], Fatah's secretary in Syria, and Khaled Abu Usba.
[[File:2013 Fatah anniversary rally in Gaza (04).jpg|thumb|A demonstration in support of Fatah in [[Gaza City]] in January 2013]]
Elected to the central council was Fadwa Barghouti, the wife of [[Marwan Barghouti]] who was serving five life sentences in Israel for his role in terrorist attacks on civilians in Israel during the [[Second Intifada]].

====Reconciliation process with Hamas====
{{main|Fatah–Hamas reconciliation process}}
A meeting of the Revolutionary Council was held in Ramallah from 18 to 19 October 2014. Many important questions were discussed, including reconciliation with Hamas. Opinion was divided on this issue.<ref name=al-mon_growing_issues>[http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/10/fatah-revolutionary-council-meeting-hamas-dahlan.html ''Fatah's Revolutionary Council grapples with growing issues'']. Adnan Abu Amer, Al-Monitor, 27 October 2014</ref>

====2016: Seventh Congress====
In December 2016, more than 1400 members of Fatah's 7th Congress elected 18 members of the Central Committee and 80 for the Revolutionary Council. Six new members were added to the Central Committee while 12 were reelected. Outgoing members included Nabil Shaath, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, Zakaria al-Agha and Tayib Abdul Rahim.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=hWTZzja51779170212ahWTZzj|title=Fatah Congress elects Central Committee and Revolutionary Council members|editor=WAFA|date=5 December 2016|access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref>

Its leader Abu Ashraf Al-Armoushi and his comrades were killed in the Al-Basateen neighborhood of Ain Al-Helweh camp on 30 July 2023 during a fighting.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mtv.com.lb/en/News/Live-Feed/1378673/brigadier-general-abu-ashraf-al-armoushi-has-been-killed--along-with-a-number-of-his-companions--in-the-bsatine-neighborhood-of-ain-al-helweh-camp |title=Brigadier General Abu Ashraf Al-Armoushi has been killed |date=30 July 2023 |access-date=31 July 2023 |work=[[MTV Lebanon]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/justice-law/630117 |title=Fatah Leader Abu Ashraf al-Armoushi killed in Ain al-Hilweh |date=30 July 2023 |access-date=31 July 2023 |work=NNA}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-20/Middle-East/Fighting-erupts-in-Palestinian-refugee-camp-in-Lebanon-30029 |title=Fighting erupts in Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon |date=30 July 2023 |access-date=31 July 2023 |work=Jordan News}}</ref>