Against the backdrop of the ceasefires in Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza, local government elections were held at the end of April in the cities under Palestinian Authority control in Judea and Samaria, as well as in a few select cities in Gaza. These are the prominent winners: a mayor who celebrated the release of a terrorist, a council member who commemorates Dalal Mughrabi—a murderer with the blood of dozens of Israelis on her hands, and a former academic who spreads Hamas propaganda.
The Yesha Council Situation Room (JSR) examined the individuals who won and found a deeply concerning picture: elected officials whose public profiles include open incitement against Israel and the United States, the commemoration of terrorists, and support for the release of terrorists from prisons.
Tubas: The Head of the Winning List Spreads Hamas Propaganda
Harbi Hassan Hamad Daraghmeh headed the winning list in Tubas. His profession—a chemistry lecturer at the Arab American University in Jenin. His Facebook profile, however, tells a different story:
- On October 17, Daraghmeh published an interview presenting Hamas terrorists as having treated Israeli hostages “well.” This was a clear attempt to whitewash the murderers while the hostages were still being held in captivity. This is the man who now sits at the head of the Tubas council.
- Two days later, on October 19, 2023, less than two weeks after the October 7th massacre, Daraghmeh shared a post by Jackson Hinkle, a well-known antisemitic internet personality who supports Hamas propaganda regarding the bombing of hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
Hebron: A Council Member Who Commemorates Dalal Mughrabi and Calls the US the “Great Satan”
Muammar Youssef Diab Al-Owiwi was elected to a second term in Hebron—holding the No. 3 spot on the “Sumud and Generosity” list. He is a publicist who uses his platforms to lash out at the State of Israel and the US.
- In 2022, Al-Owiwi published a post of remembrance and admiration for Dalal Mughrabi—the terrorist who led the 1978 Coastal Road massacre, in which 38 Israelis were murdered, including 13 children. In another post, he referred to his brother as a “Shahid” (martyr)—without specifying what made him one in his eyes.
- Alongside this, Al-Owiwi has maintained a systematic campaign of incitement against the United States. In one of his publications, he wrote that Israel operates “with the support of the Great Satan—America.” In another post, he addressed America directly, writing: “You have shown your people and the peoples of the world your true face; the mask of humanity has been removed by your support for the killing of children, women, the elderly, and the youth.”
Jenin: A Mayor Elected with the Backing of a Clan That Commemorates “Shahids”
Muhammad Mustafa Ahmed Jarrar was elected Mayor of Jenin, a position he has held since 2022 as acting mayor, which has now become official. He enjoys the full backing of the Jarrar clan, one of the largest and most influential families in northern Samaria.
The clan’s official website dedicates a prominent central page to commemorating what they call the “Shahids of the Jarrar Family” (شهداء آل جرار)—family members who were killed during attacks against Israel. Jarrar’s selection was not accidental; the same website published explicit quotes of support: “The Al-Jarrar clan supports list No. 4” and “The candidate, our cousin Muhammad Mustafa Jarrar, No. 1.” In other words, the Mayor of Jenin was elected from within an ideology that glorifies terrorist attacks.
Jericho: The Mayor Participates in Rallies for the Release of Terrorists—and His Family Celebrates the Release of Terrorists from Prison
Salem Ali Salem Gharrouf, who sometimes carries the rank of “Liwa” (Major General), was elected to the Jericho mayoralty on the “Jericho First” list. His profile reveals a clear alignment with the PA narrative.
A Facebook page identified with the Gharrouf family published a post of support celebrating the release of terrorist Fadi Jalaita from Nablus, who completed a 25-year prison sentence in an Israeli jail. A local Jericho Facebook page documented Gharrouf participating in a solidarity rally in the town square with Arab terrorists sitting in prisons, where he declared: “The issue of the prisoners is the headline of the struggle for freedom.”
