Fatah, literally translating to "opening," is a reverse acronym of the Arabic name "Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini," meaning "Palestinian National Liberation Movement." Fatah is a secular major opposition political party in Palestine and the largest organization in the Palestine Liberation Organization, a multi-party confederation. Founded in 1959 by Yasser Arafat, Fatah has supported a number of military organizations under its jurisdiction, though, unlike its rival Hamas, is not labeled a terrorist organization by any nation. In 1993, under the leadership of Arafat, Fatah officially recognized the state of Israel and formally denounced terrorism. In the 2006 Fatah lost its majority in the Palestinian National Authority and officially assumed the role of the opposition.

• 1958: Yasser Arafat helps found the Fatah movement

• 1964: PLO founded

• 1965: Fatah creates military wing

• 1967: Israel wins 6 day war

• 1969: Fatah gained control of the executive bodies of the PLO

• 1978: PLO headquarters in Beirut bombed, 150 killed

• 1987: Hamas founded

• 1987: The First Intifada

• 1993: Oslo Accords

• 2000: The Second Intifada

• 2006, Jan: Hamas victorious in legislative election

• 2007, June: Hamas attempts takeover of Gaza ending coalition with Fatah