PHOTO: Ashraf Jabari of Hebron (middle) speaks at the
Sovereignty Conference in Jerusalem with Anett Haskia (left) and Shalom Yerushalmi
(right).
Sovereignty Conference in Jerusalem with Anett Haskia (left) and Shalom Yerushalmi
(right).
Arab residents of Hebron came out in support of Israeli sovereignty over
Judea and Samaria at a recent conference. The 4th annual Sovereignty Conference hosted
by Women for Israel’s Tomorrow (Women in Green) was held in Jerusalem last month
featuring Members of Knesset, elected officials, journalists and several thousand
interested participants.
Judea and Samaria at a recent conference. The 4th annual Sovereignty Conference hosted
by Women for Israel’s Tomorrow (Women in Green) was held in Jerusalem last month
featuring Members of Knesset, elected officials, journalists and several thousand
interested participants.
The final panel discussion of the evening was perhaps the most heated.
Moderated by Noam Arnon, the long time spokesperson for the Jewish Community of Hebron,
it featured several Arab representatives, including Ashraf Jabari, a prominent
businessman and community leader in Hebron.
Moderated by Noam Arnon, the long time spokesperson for the Jewish Community of Hebron,
it featured several Arab representatives, including Ashraf Jabari, a prominent
businessman and community leader in Hebron.
“Nobody can prevent the State of Israel from annexing the territories,”
Jabari proclaimed in Arabic to the primarily Hebrew speaking Israeli audience.
Simultaneous Hebrew and English translations were provided. He went to
criticize the Palestinian Authority for corruption, something many PA residents
have quietly
reported for years.
Jabari proclaimed in Arabic to the primarily Hebrew speaking Israeli audience.
Simultaneous Hebrew and English translations were provided. He went to
criticize the Palestinian Authority for corruption, something many PA residents
have quietly
reported for years.
“Where’s all the money that was given to the Palestinian Authority? All those
dollars that came from Europe, from America, even from the State of Israel,” Jabari
questioned. He alluded to PA officials lining their pockets rather than building
hospitals and schools.
dollars that came from Europe, from America, even from the State of Israel,” Jabari
questioned. He alluded to PA officials lining their pockets rather than building
hospitals and schools.
Rather then calling to “end the occupation” or promote a boycott, divestment
and sanctions campaign, Jabari said “we are not against sovereignty. We accept what the
Israeli government accepts regarding sovereignty in the territories.”
and sanctions campaign, Jabari said “we are not against sovereignty. We accept what the
Israeli government accepts regarding sovereignty in the territories.”
He concluded with a call to hear from the residents as opposed to
politicians. “Visit Hebron and hear from both sides, both the Palestinian and Jewish
side,” he said.
politicians. “Visit Hebron and hear from both sides, both the Palestinian and Jewish
side,” he said.
Jabari also praised Noam Arnon, his contact in the Jewish Community whom he
has known for years. “Noam comes to my home on foot, no one blocks his way, sometimes he
is even accompanied to my house.”
has known for years. “Noam comes to my home on foot, no one blocks his way, sometimes he
is even accompanied to my house.”
Noam Arnon added a personal story to highlight his opposition to the Oslo
Accords of 1993 that created the Palestinian Authority and the Hebron Accords of 1997
that brought the PA into power in 80% of the city.
Accords of 1993 that created the Palestinian Authority and the Hebron Accords of 1997
that brought the PA into power in 80% of the city.
“In 1996 I was approached by many delegations from Hebron,” Arnon said, remembering the
months leading up to the division of the city. “I met the trade union, the
industrialists and a delegation of sheikhs, and they begged for one thing — they said,
please don’t bring upon us this calamity. Please don’t bring the Palestinian Authority.
They knew exactly who they were dealing with… the PA promotes and entices
terrorism.”
Arnon went on to describe the normal Arab population as allies that were
abandoned to Yasser Arafat’s PLO. He compared it to the withdrawal from the
southern Lebanon buffer zone in 2000 which adversely affected Israeli’s Christian
Maronite Lebanese supporters. The Lebanese civil war was discussed later in the panel by
Jonathan Elkhoury, a Christian Arab Lebanese refugee living in Israel.
abandoned to Yasser Arafat’s PLO. He compared it to the withdrawal from the
southern Lebanon buffer zone in 2000 which adversely affected Israeli’s Christian
Maronite Lebanese supporters. The Lebanese civil war was discussed later in the panel by
Jonathan Elkhoury, a Christian Arab Lebanese refugee living in Israel.
Arnon concluded, “these are authentic leaders, not imported ones, or corrupt
politicians. We cannot divide this small land and we will not betray our
friends.”
politicians. We cannot divide this small land and we will not betray our
friends.”
The panel also featured a video of Arnon in one of his many conversations
with Sheikh Farad al-Jabari, a tribal elder from the greater Hebron area originally
scheduled to appear on the panel. Shiekh Jabari has also expressed concern over PA
corruption and lamented the loss of Israeli law and order. In other conversations, he
has decried anarchist agitators who arrive in Hebron to protest “Israeli occupation” but
in reality just create conflict for the locals.
with Sheikh Farad al-Jabari, a tribal elder from the greater Hebron area originally
scheduled to appear on the panel. Shiekh Jabari has also expressed concern over PA
corruption and lamented the loss of Israeli law and order. In other conversations, he
has decried anarchist agitators who arrive in Hebron to protest “Israeli occupation” but
in reality just create conflict for the locals.
Other participants in the panel were Sheikh Abu Khalil Al-Tamimi of Hebron,
Abu Naim al Tarifi from Ramallah, Anett Haskia, an Israeli-Arab from Akko who ran for
Knesset with the Jewish Home party, Dr. Aryeh Eldad, a former Member of Knesset from the
National Union party, and Shalom Yerushalmi, a journalist from Ma’ariv news who was
recently a personal guest of Noam Arnon in Hebron.
Abu Naim al Tarifi from Ramallah, Anett Haskia, an Israeli-Arab from Akko who ran for
Knesset with the Jewish Home party, Dr. Aryeh Eldad, a former Member of Knesset from the
National Union party, and Shalom Yerushalmi, a journalist from Ma’ariv news who was
recently a personal guest of Noam Arnon in Hebron.
FOR FURTHER READING:
REFERENCES:
* Stern
Message at Sovereignty Conference – Breaking Israel News
Message at Sovereignty Conference – Breaking Israel News
* Women in Green
Sovereignty Conference – Israel National News
Sovereignty Conference – Israel National News
* Rift
over Sovereignty – Jewish Press
over Sovereignty – Jewish Press
* Hotovely
to Bibi: Your Base Demands Sovereignty – Tazpit News
Service
to Bibi: Your Base Demands Sovereignty – Tazpit News
Service
YES, I WANT TO VISIT HEBRON:
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
United States contact info:
http://www.hebronfund.org
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
Israeli contact info:
http://en.hebron.org.il/
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
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02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
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