Tayseer Abu Sneineh

Tayseer Abu Sneineh (Arabic: تيسير أبو سنينة) (alt. Tisir Abu Sneina) is a Palestinian Arab 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 terrorist attack, who caused death to 6 unarmed civilians. He was elected Mayor of Hebron on 14 May 2017.^[1] Abu Sneina has been lecturing voluntarily to Palestinian youth on the 1980 terrorist act.^[2]

Tayseer Abu Sneineh
Mayor of Hebron
In office 14 May 2017 – ?
Constituency	Hebron, West Bank
Member of the waqf that administers the Ibrahimi Mosque in Cave of the Patriarchs
Incumbent
Assumed office 1993
Personal details
Nationality	Palestinian
Political 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

Background

Sneinah is a former math teacher and a graduate of the University of Jordan, in Amman.^[3]

Political career

Abu Sneineh was appointed in 1993 to the waqf that administers the Ibrahimi Mosque in Cave of the Patriarchs.^[4] Jewish groups protested his appointment.^[4] He was elected as the mayor after heading the victorious Fatah party's electoral list in Hebron during the 2017 Palestinian local elections.^[1]

During the 2021–22 Palestinian local elections, he split from Fatah and formed his own independent list.^[5] 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.^[6]

1980 Hebron attack

Abu Sneineh was convicted in the 1980 Hebron attack.^[1][4][3]

References

1. "Palestinian terrorist in killing of 6 Jews elected Hebron mayor". Times of Israel. 14 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
2. "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).
3. Claiborne, William (17 September 1980). "Israel Charges 10 Palestinians in Hebron Ambush". Washington Post. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
4. Lazaroff, Tovah (19 July 2013). "Terrorist Wakf head angers Hebron Jews". Jerusalem Post. ProQuest 1411052017.
5. Aaron Boxerman (26 March 2022). "Palestinians hold West Bank local elections as independent lists proliferate". Retrieved 17 April 2022.
6. Jack Mukand (5 November 2022). "Hebron mayor elicits outrage after offering $5 for anyone who kills a stray dog". Retrieved 6 November 2022.