Acronym for Harakat At-Tahriri Al-Filistiniya, with the first letters in reverse order giving Fateh = conquest. Founded in Kuwait in 1959 by Yasser Arafat and associates, advocated armed struggle to liberate Palestinian lands. Headed by Arafat ever since, is the largest and strongest PLO faction. Initially a network of underground cells it reorganized with a central committee in 1963 and took control of the PLO at the 5th Palestinian National Council (PNC) in Cairo in 1969. Fateh adopted the principle of political pluralism within the PLO. Until the 1970s, it followed a guerrilla strategy (with its military wing Al-Assifa and squads operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories known as Fateh Hawks and Black Panthers, and the ideology that Palestine must be liberated by Palestinians, i.e. not by relying on Arab states. Fateh advocates a democratic, secular, mutli-religious state. Played a central role in the Intifada and was a member of the United National Leadership of the Uprising (UNLU) Represented in he Executive Committee by three members, including Arafat, and remains Arafat's power base. President: Yasser Arafat, Secretary General: Farouq Qaddoumi.
Official website: www.fateh.net

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)

Established in 1967 by the Arab National Movement and headed since then by George Habash. Began a transformation towards a Marxist-Leninist ideology in early 1969, seeing the struggle for Palestine as part of a larger revolution to transform Arab society along Marxist-Leninist lines. The faction split twice: in 1968, when the Palestinian Liberation Front broke away (now PFLP-GC) and in 1969, when the DFLP did the same. In the 1970s it became known for hijacking actions, led by Wadi Haddad (armed wing is known as the Red Eagles), but became more moderate after 1973. Pulled out of the PLO Executive Committee in 1974 rejoining it only in 1981. Led an anti-Arafat coalition in he early 1980s opposing both negotiations with Jordan and the Fez Plan. It was a member of the United National Leadership of the Uprising (UNLU) during the Intifada. It opposes the Oslo Accords. The PFLP is represented in the PLO Executive Committee by Abdel Rahim Malouh, but is de facto marginalized since the Oslo Process began. A reconciliation with Fateh/Arafat - together with the DFLP - took place in Cairo in Aug. 1999.
Official Website: www.pflp-pal.org

Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)

Abbreviation of Harakat Al-Mouqawama Al-Islamiyya - means enthusiasm or zeal. Palestinian fundamentalist political movement grown out of religious associations and claims to be linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. Emerged shortly after the outbreak of the Intifada in Jan. 1988, and was initially tolerated if not encouraged, by the Israeli authorities as an alternative to the PLO. Spiritual leader and founding father is Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, who was freed from an Israeli jail after nine years in prison on 1 Oct. 1997. The Hamas Covenant, issued in Aug. 1988, proclaims Jihad against Israel. Advocates an Islamic states in all of historic Palestine and the application of Shar'ia Law. Not a PLO member; worked independently from the United National Leadership of the Uprising (UNLU) during the Intifada but does not question the role of the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people at an international level. Gained popularity through charitable efforts and the provisions of educational and health services. Rejects any political settlement with Israel and has been responsible for many attacks on Israeli targets (mostly carried out by its military wing, the Izz Eddine Al-Qassem Units: Military wing of Hamas and nominally controlled by it, but largely a nebula of small groups; responsible for numerous attacks on Israeli targets, including a series of suicide bombings since 1994). Strongly opposes the Oslo Agreements; member of the "Alliance of Palestinian Forces" opposed to the peace process. Boycotted the Palestinian elections of Jan. 1996. After Fateh, largest Palestinian faction, but shows signs of a rift between a rather moderate dialogue-based approach (Gaza) and one of violence (advocated by the Amman-based leadership).
Official Webiste: www.palestine-info.co.uk/hamas/">

Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) \

Extreme left Marxist-Maoist group led by Nayef Hawatmeh (Abu Nouf). Formed as popular Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PDFLP) after splitting from the PFLP in Fe. 1969 following a leadership dispute and became the DFLP in Aug. 1974. It drew most of its supporters from the intelligentsia, mainly Palestinian students abroad, and played a major role in placing the idea of democratic Palestinian state, with equal rights for Jews and Arabs, on the political agenda (two-state solution) Adopted pragmatic positions and known as an early advocate of dialogue with the extreme left of Israel. It was a member of the United National Leadership of the Uprising (UNLU) during the Intifada, and now opposes the Oslo process. Marginalized since the signing of Declaration of Principles (DOP). The group's official headquarters are in Damascus. A DFLP-Arafat reconciliation took place in Cairo in Aug. 1999, where both sides defined red lines regarding the final status issue. Currently represented in the PLO Executive Committee by Taysir Khalid.
Official website: www.fas.org

Palestinian People’s Party (PPP)

Abbreviation Hizb Ash-Sha'ab , leftist PLO faction, founded in Feb. 1982 in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as the Palestinian Communist Party. It broke with its Leninist past in 1991 and re-launched itself under the new name as a democratic, pragmatic and popular party. It was a member of the United National Leadership of the Uprising (UNLU) during the Intifada. Led by Bashir Barghouthi from 1982-98; in Oct. 1998, the party held its third convention in Ramallah and elected a three-member committees as General Secretariat (Han Amira, Abdel Majid Hamdan and Mustafa Barghouthi). Plays a more important role locally than in the PLO, where it is represented in he Executive Committee by Sulieman Najjab.
Official Website: www.palpeople.org

Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA)

Established in March 1990 as a split faction of the DFLP; headed since by Yasser Abed Rabbo, who also represents FIDA in the PLO Executive Committee. Advocates democratization in the Palestinian arena and focuses on a party system that reflects political pluralism and democracy. Supports the Oslo Accords. The Secretary General is Saleh Ra'fat.
Official Website: www.fida-palestine.org

Palestinian Popular Struggle Front

Is a small, extremist, anti-Arafat PLO faction, leftist-Ba'ath in character, that split from Fateh in 1969. It is led by Samir Ghosheh and has members mostly in Syria and Lebanon.

Palestinian Liberation Front

Is a militant PLO faction that split from the PFLP and later from the PFLP-GC (1977) to follow a pro-Iraqi stance. It is led by Palestinian Central Council member Mohammed Zeidan (Abu Abbas), but its position toward the PLO leadership and Chairman Arafat is uncertain. The PLF was responsible for the hijacking of the Achille Lauro in 1985.

Islamic Jihad Movement

Split from the Muslim Brotherhood in the mid-1980s and was formed as a separate militant Islamic movement by Fathi Shiqaqi and Abdul Aziz Odeh, both refugees from Gaza. Islamic Jihad considers Palestine the central and preeminent issue and advocates armed struggle for the liberation of Palestine. It does not see itself as a rival to the mainstream PLO but strongly opposes the Oslo Accords. Ramadan Abu Dallah Salah replaced Fathi Shiqaqi, who was assassinated on 26 Oct. 1995 in Malta as Secretary General.
Official webiste: www.qudsway.com

Arab Liberation Front

Iraqi-sponsored, leftist military PLO faction, founded in 1969 at the initiative of the Iraqi Ba'ath party to influence the Palestinian resistance movement, and led by Abdul Rahim Ahmed. Its ideology is similar to As-Saiqa, but it carries out fewer operations. The group is in fact part of Iraq's Baath Party, based in Baghdad, under the direct command of the Iraqi army and follows the Middle East policy of Iraq. Played a substantial role within the Rejectionist Front. Currently represented in the Executive Committee by Mahmoud Ismael.

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine — General Command

Formed in late 1968 after breaking away from the PFLP, is led by Ahmed Jibril, a former officer in the Syrian Army. It is a militant anti-Arafat faction within the PLO, committed to an extreme guerrilla strategy, and considered to be connected o Syrian Military Intelligence. Was part of the Rejection Front. It rejects any compromise with Israel and has been involved in numerous attacks. Lacks broad popular presence. Based in Damascus, it has no significant branch in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Currently not represented in the PLO Executive Committee.

Popular Liberation War Pioneers (Sa’iqa)

Syrian-backed and controlled PLO faction of leftist militant ideology was established in Feb. 1968 at the initiative of the Ba'athist regime and follows its line. The Liberation of Palestine is considered within the context of a Pan-Arab movement led by Syria. It is considered the second largest PLO guerrilla organization, but has no serious presence outside Syrian/Lebanon. Currently led by Issam Al-Qadi (formerly Zuheir Muhsin) and based in Damascus. Not represented in the PLO Executive Committee at the moment.

Source: The Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs (PASSIA)