video transcript

Palestinians celebrate the founding of the Fatah political group that rules the West Bank. (SOUND UP) Friday marks the Palestinian nationalist movement's 48th anniversary since Yasser Arafat established the party in 1965. Although it has militant roots, the secular movement later led peacemaking efforts with Israel. Fatah was also key in the creation of Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza. But Fatah has lost some ground in the West Bank recently due to infighting and an acrimonious relationship with technocrat Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. The group also lost a key Gaza election in 2006 and was eventually rooted out by Islamist ruling party Hamas, which is also the area's largest militant group.