TEL AVIV — Fatah will celebrate 53 years since its establishment on Sunday in a series of events that will begin with a ceremony at the grave of the group’s founder – former Palestinian Authority president and arch terrorist Yasser Arafat.
The celebrations will be led by Fatah Chair and PA President Mahmoud Abbas. Fatah announced ahead of the events that the 53rd anniversary of its founding will be marked by the “struggle for Jerusalem” and will be called “the year of confrontation and defense of the holy sites.”
The group posted a video clip on its Facebook page containing violent imagery against Israel, showing Palestinians – including children – fighting IDF soldiers and masked men throwing stones as well as Fatah officials leading protests.
On the same Facebook page, Fatah official and member of the group’s Central Committee Dalal Salameh is seen confronting IDF soldiers during the ongoing protests since U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The moderators of the Facebook page noted that Abbas personally called Salameh to ask how she was after she had reportedly been injured during clashes in the area of Hawara near Nablus. According to the Fatah statement, the Palestinian president wished her a quick recovery and good health.
This week, Fatah designated Tuesdays and Fridays as “days of rage” against Trump’s declaration regarding Jerusalem.
Fatah believes that some of the marches and events marking the anniversary of the group’s founding will turn into confrontations between Fatah supporters and IDF soldiers in the West Bank.