Tayseer Abu Sneineh
Tayseer Abu Sneineh | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Hebron | |
| Assumed office 14 May 2017 | |
| Constituency | Hebron, West Bank |
| Member of the waqf that administers the Ibrahimi Mosque in Cave of the Patriarchs | |
| Assumed office 1993 | |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Independent (2022-present), Formerly Fatah |
| Education | University of Jordan |
| Occupation | Politician, former math teacher |
Known for | Former member of Fatah party, Mayor of Hebron, convicted for taking part in the 1980 Hebron terrorist attack |
Tayseer Abu Sneineh (Arabic: تيسير أبو سنينة) (alt. Tisir Abu Sneina) is a Palestinian politician, a former member of the Fatah party, and Mayor of Hebron, in the West Bank. He was convicted by Israel for taking part in the 1980 Hebron attack, which killed six civilians. He served as Minister for Prisoner Affairs for the Palestinian Authority from March to June 2007. He was elected Mayor of Hebron on 14 May 2017.[1] Abu Sneineh has been lecturing voluntarily to Palestinian youth on the 1980 attack.[2]
Background
Abu Sneineh is a former math teacher and a graduate of the University of Jordan, in Amman.[3]
Militant activity
Along with other Fatah militants, Abu Sneineh carried out the 1980 Hebron attack on May 2, 1980, in which six Israeli civilians were killed. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and released in a prisoner exchange.[4][1][5][3]
Political career
Abu Sneineh was appointed in 1993 to the waqf that administers the Ibrahimi Mosque in Cave of the Patriarchs.[5] Jewish groups protested his appointment.[5] He subsequently served as the Palestinian Authority's Minister for Prisoner Affairs in the Second Haniyeh Government, from March 2007 to June 2007.[6]
Abu Sneineh was elected as the mayor of Hebron after heading the victorious Fatah party's electoral list during the 2017 Palestinian local elections.[1]
In May 2022, Mahmud Abbas expelled Abu Sneineh, his wife, and more than 40 other Fatah members for participating in the 2021–22 Palestinian local elections. Abu Sneineh headed the "Loyalty" list, an alliance betwen Fatah, Hamas, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which won a landslide victory in the elections in Hebron on March 26. Abu Sneineh did not hold any formal position in Fatah.[4] According to Abu Sneineh, Abbas, through his advisor Mahmoud Al-Habbash, offered him a ministerial position or governor of Hebron in exchange from withdrawing or dissolving the Loyalty list.[7]
Abu Sneineh caused controversy by making comments about offering cash to anyone who killed stray dogs in November 2022, before taking back his comments and claiming that he was not being serious but only making suggestion.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 "Palestinian terrorist in killing of 6 Jews elected Hebron mayor". Times of Israel. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ↑ "تيسير أبو سنينة أحد منفذي عملية الدبويا يشرح عن تفاصيلها" [Tayseer Abu Sneina, one of the perpetrators of the Al-Dabweya operation, explains its details] (in Arabic).
- 1 2 Claiborne, William (17 September 1980). "Israel Charges 10 Palestinians in Hebron Ambush". Washington Post. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- 1 2 "فصل كوادر تاريخية في "فتح": أزمات الحركة تطفو على السطح مجدداً". Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. 2022-05-10. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 Lazaroff, Tovah (19 July 2013). "Terrorist Wakf head angers Hebron Jews". Jerusalem Post. ProQuest 1411052017.
- ↑ "Timeline of PA governments – European Council on Foreign Relations". ECFR. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
- ↑ Aaron Boxerman (26 March 2022). "Palestinians hold West Bank local elections as independent lists proliferate". Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ↑ Jack Mukand (5 November 2022). "Hebron mayor elicits outrage after offering $5 for anyone who kills a stray dog". Retrieved 6 November 2022.