For many of the people attending the Fatah Sixth General Conference that opened today in Bethlehem, Fatah was the hope of their lives.
Fatah was the nationality that most of these Palestinians still do not have.
The membership, mostly men, believed with all their hearts and souls that Fatah would save them, that Fatah was a winning force that would lead them to a solution for their dispossesion, that would restore their dignity and honor.
And now, only about 2,000 of them — who were authorized to receive invitations though what appear to be secret and arbitrary decision-making, and who are now present in the Conference in Bethlehem — will be deciding the future, if not the fate, of their movement.
By Thursday, a new leadership will or will not be elected. Lobbying is now non-stop at many locations around Bethlehem, mostly in hotels where delegates are staying, and at the Terra Sancta Conference Hall.
Up for grabs are 21 seats on the Fatah Central Council (there are over 120 nominees), and 120 seats in the Fatah Revolutionary Council (there are over 600 competing candidates).
Until a few days ago, it was not even clear that this Conference in Bethlehem would even take place.
But, over the past week, it became quite clear that the current leadership, (starting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also head of the overarching Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and who is at the same time apparently leading Fatah) was absolutely determined to go ahead with this meeting, whatever the cost.