Page 41 - Encyclopedia Of Terrorism

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14———Al Jihad

an unnamed network of underground cells. Members In the late 1980s, Al Fatah developed a political
published Our Palestine: The Call to Life, a magazine wing, forming the moderate majority within the PLO.
in which they called for the eradication of Israel. The Al Fatah has been criticized by militant groups such
magazine set forth Fatah’s mission and brought in as Hamas and former Fatah member Abu Nidal’s
new recruits. Al Fatah formally organized in 1963 and breakaway Fatah Revolutionary Council. In 1988,
set up a central governing committee. under the leadership of Arafat and Al Fatah, the PLO
The name Al Fatah is a reverse acronym for the accepted Israel’s right to coexist with Palestine and
Arabic phrase “Harakat al-Tahir al Watani al Filastini” effectively denounced terrorism.
(“Movement for the National Liberation of Palestine”). In 1993, Arafat signed the PLO-Israel Declaration
The members reversed the initial letters of the words of Principles and brought the Fatah party back to the
to form “Fatah,” which means “Victory” in Arabic. Al Gaza Strip after nearly three decades of exile. As
Fatah gained the support of Syria and emerged from peace agreements faltered in recent years, Fatah
the underground in December 1964, when members members have returned to terrorism and international
blew up a water-pump installation in Israel. In follow- leaders have called on Arafat to discipline his party.
ing years, Fatah members continued to infiltrate and During the fall of 2000, a group of young Palestinians
attack Israel, entering from Lebanon or Jordan. said to have grown up together in the Fatah youth
After Israel won the Six-Day War in 1967 and movement founded the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. The
occupied the Sinai peninsula, the Golan Heights, brigades, named for the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem,
the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank, Fatah leaders have become increasingly violent during 2002 and
recruited Palestinians displaced by the war. Al Fatah have carried out many deadly suicide-bombing
established guerrilla-training centers in Lebanon and attacks against Israel.
Jordan and increased the raids on Israel, provoking
See also YASIR ARAFAT; HAMAS; PALESTINE LIBERATION
many counterattacks. Throughout the 1960s and
ORGANIZATION
1970s, Al Fatah also offered training to terrorist groups
from around the world. Further Reading
In a 1968 battle in the town of Karameh, Jordan, Al
Fatah held off an Israeli counterattack. As accounts of Aburish, Said K. Arafat: From Defender to Dictator.
New York: Bloomsbury, 1998.
the standoff spread, Al Fatah gained prestige and
Hart, Alan. Arafat, a Political Biography. London: Sidg-
Arafat garnered international attention. The number of
wick & Jackson, 1994
volunteer Fatah fighters swelled. Al Fatah joined the
Mishal, Shaul. The PLO Under Arafat: Between Gun and
PLO in 1969, and Arafat was elected chairman of the
Olive Branch. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press,
PLO’s executive committee. Upon his election, Arafat 1986.
reportedly declared, “Armed struggle is the only way. “Talking With the PLO; The P.L.O.: From Birth Through
We reject all political settlements.” Terrorism to Dialogue With the U.S.” New York Times,
Jordan’s Army clashed with the PLO in the early December 16, 1988.
1970s and overpowered the group, expelling it from Wallach, Janet, and John Wallach. Arafat: In the Eyes of the
that country. A radical splinter group of Al Fatah, Beholder. Rev. and updated ed. Secaucus, NJ: Carol
Black September, emerged in 1971; Black September Publishing Group, 1997.
was responsible for the Munich Olympics massacre
in 1972, as well as other terror attacks against Israel.
Meanwhile, the PLO moved its base to Lebanon, AL JIHAD
where it became embroiled in Lebanon’s prolonged
civil war. In 1982, after Israel invaded Lebanon, the aka Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Egyptian al-Jihad,
Islamic Jihad, Jihad Group, New Jihad
group evacuated Beirut under international guarantees
of safety.
Senior Fatah officials broke from Arafat’s rule in The Egyptian Islamic extremist group Al Jihad is
1983 and moved to a closer relationship with Syria. said to maintain close ties with Osama bin Laden’s
With Syrian backing, Al Fatah attacked Arafat and Al Qaeda network. Although exact numbers are
his troops in Tripoli, Lebanon. Arafat managed to unknown, the organization is believed to have several
keep control of the PLO, however, and moved its hundred committed members. Active since the 1970s,
headquarters to Tunisia. the militant organization’s goal is to overthrow the