The "Harchivi Mekom Aholech" organization, which has operated in Hebron for over 18 years, engages in what's known locally as "redeeming homes" – purchasing Arab buildings with full cash payment, transferring them to Jewish ownership, and revitalizing the Jewish fabric of the city.

"Our goal is to make Hebron Jewish," said Miriam Fleishman, the organization's director, with a smile that doesn't hide the determination. "We're not ashamed of it. Hebron is the city of the patriarchs. There was always a Jewish ember there; now we're expanding it."

According to Fleishman, recent months have brought dramatic change on the ground. "Since the war broke out, we receive at least five inquiries per month from Arabs who want to sell their homes and leave for Europe," she said. "They saw what happened in Gaza and are doing soul-searching. We know how to help them. Sometimes we literally smuggle them to Europe after the purchase."

It turns out that this isn't a simple matter – each building purchase costs millions of shekels and includes not only the purchase of the structure itself, but also full assistance with the emigration of the selling family. The organization doesn't receive government money and relies primarily on donations "from Jews only," Fleishman stressed, "and a few ideological investors willing to risk their money for the city."

The first stage of the process is actually intelligence work. "We have people from elite units, Arabic speakers with all the nuances," Fleishman said. "They know how to identify who really wants to sell. After that, the legal department springs into action and checks real ownership, so we don't fall for imposters. And then comes the stage of military approvals, forming families who will live in the building, and lots more bureaucracy."

To date, the organization has successfully acquired eight buildings, with several more already at an advanced stage of development. Fleishman described real climate change. "Since Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took office, the atmosphere on the ground has been more positive," she said. "Even in the military, they say when Jews live in the neighborhoods, security improves; it doesn't get complicated."

Aryeh Gottlieb, a city resident, described a rare sense of satisfaction. "We're 40 meters from the Cave. Give me the most luxurious villa in Savyon, I'm not leaving," he said. "Every coffee I drink in Hebron is a commandment of settling the land. It's not like drinking coffee in a cafe."

According to him, security forces also understand the contribution. "They told us we think they're protecting us, but actually we're protecting them," he said. "Our very presence helps."

Tzviya Ben Shai, a third-generation Hebron resident, has returned to live in the city after being away for more than 50 years. "I always wanted to be close to the Cave. This is the most suitable place for me," she said. "Today it feels like a neighborhood, people walk on foot, enter, and exit. There's movement, there's life. In another year, there will be a real city here."

Fleishman summed up with a sharp message. "We need to be in the Arab cities themselves, not just around them. Settlement around them is important, but holding the heart of the cities is critical," she said. "'Harchivi Mekom Aholech,' translates to "expand our place, I will go," isn't just a slogan. It's a mission. And we call on the public, whoever wants to see a Jewish Hebron, they should know – this is in our hands, and it depends on money."

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This marks the first major change to the site's governance since the 1994 Shamgar Committee recommendations, and reflects a long-standing Israeli desire to improve infrastructure and accessibility for Jewish worshippers. Chief among the proposed renovations are the construction of a permanent roof over the "Jacob's Courtyard", where Jewish prayers are held nearly year-round, and the installation of an advanced fire safety system. These plans have long been delayed due to Palestinian opposition, despite the safety concerns involved. For example, in emergencies, access to security camera footage required coordination with the Islamic Waqf, which until now had controlled the site.

At a pivotal meeting on Monday led by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and following months of preparation by the Civil Administration, a legal obstacle blocking the transfer of authority was resolved. As a result, control of the site has now officially shifted from the Hebron Municipality and the Civil Administration to the Kiryat Arba-Hebron Religious Council.

Shai Glick, CEO of the human rights organization B'Tsalmo, which has long advocated for the change, welcomed the decision. "The Cave of the Patriarchs is registered in the Book of Genesis as belonging to the Jewish people," Glick said. "For too long, due to a misguided decision by Moshe Dayan, the site was managed by the Waqf and military authorities. This move finally restores dignity and sovereignty. After making the site accessible to the disabled, it's time for it to be properly covered, air-conditioned, and upgraded with restrooms and other facilities."

Some of these changes are already underway. On Sunday, restrooms were opened on-site, a long-standing request from Jewish residents and visitors that had been blocked by Palestinian objections to any changes at the location. With hundreds of thousands of people visiting the cave annually, the facilities are expected to significantly improve the experience for worshippers, who previously had to walk long distances to access bathrooms.

The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed: "In accordance with directives and approval from the authorized political echelon, staff work is currently underway. The plan is in advanced stages and aims to provide shade in the courtyard area for the benefit of all worshippers."

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The groundbreaking proposal centers on Sheikh Wadee' al-Jaabari, known as Abu Sanad, who leads Hebron's most powerful clan from the West Bank city located 19 miles (31 kilometers) south of Jerusalem. According to The Wall Street Journal, the sheikh declared from his ceremonial tent that "We want cooperation with Israel" and "We want coexistence" – words that carry extraordinary weight given his family's traditional influence in Palestinian society.

The signed letter, addressed to Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat, represents a dramatic departure from decades of Palestinian rejection of Israel's legitimacy. The Wall Street Journal noted that Barkat, a former Jerusalem mayor, has welcomed al-Jaabari and other sheikhs to his home and conducted more than a dozen meetings with them since February, demonstrating the serious nature of these diplomatic efforts.

The sheikhs' written proposal states that "The Emirate of Hebron shall recognize the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people, and the State of Israel shall recognize the Emirate of Hebron as the Representative of the Arab residents in the Hebron District." This recognition goes substantially beyond any previous Palestinian Authority position and completely abandons the rejectionist stance that has characterized Palestinian leadership for generations.

The comprehensive peace plan includes immediate practical benefits, with the sheikhs requesting that Israel admit 1,000 Hebron workers initially, followed by 5,000 more. Sheikh Jaabari and another major sheikh confirmed that Barkat indicated this number could eventually reach 50,000 workers or more from Hebron. Employment in Israel provides crucial income for Palestinian communities, particularly after most work permits were suspended following the October 7 attacks.

The letter explicitly pledges "zero tolerance" for terrorism by workers, creating a stark contrast with "the current situation in which the Palestinian Authority pays tributes to the terrorists," according to The Wall Street Journal. This anti-terrorism commitment represents a fundamental shift from the Palestinian Authority's controversial payments to families of individuals who commit attacks against Israelis.

Barkat emphasized that traditional peace processes have failed, necessitating "new thinking" to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Wall Street Journal reported that he has been working with full knowledge of the Israeli government to explore these possibilities with the sheikhs. A senior Israeli source confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been supportive but cautious, monitoring how the initiative develops.

The 48-year-old Sheikh Jaabari presents a stark assessment of Palestinian statehood prospects, telling The Wall Street Journal: "There will be no Palestinian state – not even in 1,000 years. After Oct. 7, Israel will not give it." A second major Hebron sheikh who signed the letter and declares loyalty to Sheikh Jaabari agrees, stating: "To think only about making a Palestinian state will bring us all to disaster."

The Wall Street Journal reviewed documents showing that the plan includes establishing a joint economic zone covering more than 1,000 acres near the security fence between Hebron and Israel. The sheikhs anticipate this development will employ tens of thousands of workers, creating substantial economic opportunities for the region.

A Hebrew document obtained by The Wall Street Journal lists Hebron-area sheikhs participating in the emirate initiative. The first circle includes eight major sheikhs leading an estimated 204,000 local residents, while the second circle contains 13 additional sheikhs representing another 350,000 people. This represents a majority of the more than 700,000 residents in the area, with both circles having sworn allegiance to Sheikh Jaabari on this matter.

Sheikh Jaabari announced his intention to "cut off the PA" because "It doesn't represent the Palestinians." He explained that clans governed their localities for centuries before "the Israeli state decided for us. It brought the PLO and told the Palestinians: Take this." The 1993 Oslo Accord installed Yasser Arafat's PLO in the West Bank after the organization had been exiled to Tunisia following expulsion from Jordan and Lebanon.

The sheikh employed an Arabic proverb to criticize the Palestinian Authority's legitimacy: "Only the village's calves plow its land. This means that a person who lives for decades outside – what does he know about where the springs of water in Hebron are located? The only thing you – the PLO – know about Hebron is collecting taxes."

Four other Hebron sheikhs interviewed separately by The Wall Street Journal expressed even stronger condemnation of Palestinian Authority governance. "The PLO called itself a liberation movement. But once they got control, they act only to steal the money of the people," one major sheikh stated. "They don't have the right to represent us – not them and not Hamas, only we ourselves."

Another sheikh emphasized their desperate circumstances: "We want the world to hear our pain. The PA steals everything. They even steal our water. We don't have water to drink." The sheikhs credit Barkat with arranging for the mayor of Israeli settlement Kiryat Arba to construct a water pipe connecting to central Hebron, demonstrating the practical cooperation already occurring.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the sheikhs generally maintain good relations with Israeli settlers and noted that many Palestinians previously earned substantial incomes in the settlements. The plan breaks from the Oslo Accords' territorial division scheme, potentially allowing both the Hebron sheikhs and settlers to gain territory from Area C's open land.

Settler leader Yossi Dagan, who heads the Samaria regional council, confirmed his support for the plan and his collaboration in its development. "His father was a courageous leader who put his people first, and the son is the same," Dagan said about Sheikh Jaabari, noting their 13-year relationship. The sheikhs have also met with Israel Ganz, who leads the settlement council, and with whom Barkat has worked on potential territorial maps.

The emirates solution concept originated with Mordechai Kedar, an Arab culture scholar at Bar-Ilan University who brought Sheikh Jaabari to Barkat five years ago. Kedar has promoted the idea of Palestinian emirates for 20 years, envisioning the West Bank's seven culturally distinct cities governed individually by their leading clans. He first met Sheikh Jaabari's father, Sheikh Abu Khader, 11 years ago.

Kedar's analysis draws on regional patterns, noting that failing Arab states like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Yemen, and Libya represent "conglomerates of ethnic, religious and sectarian groups, with modern states imposed flimsily on top." Conversely, successful Arab states – Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE's seven emirates – "are each controlled by one family."

The scholar explained that "Al-Sabah owns Kuwait. Al-Thani owns Qatar. Al-Saud owns Saudi Arabia. Dubai has very little oil, but it's run by one family, al-Maktoum, so it can thrive." This family-based governance model contrasts sharply with the Palestinian Authority's attempt to create a national identity that supersedes traditional clan loyalties.

Kedar argued that the Palestinian Authority's nationalist project "failed, and the proof is Hamas," which prioritizes radical Islamic ideology over Palestinian nationalism. Meanwhile, the clan system has endured: "Somebody from Hebron – not only will he not move to another West Bank town because he will be viewed as a foreigner, but even in Hebron he will not move to another neighborhood that belongs to another clan."

Hebron's clans possess particular strength compared to other Palestinian cities. "Hebron is much more traditional, much more conservative, especially compared to Ramallah," Kedar observed. "Hebron will be the test case for this idea of the emirates." The initiative's architects expect Hebron to establish a precedent for change in other West Bank cities, potentially beginning with Bethlehem.

The Wall Street Journal noted that traditional clan legitimacy differs fundamentally from organizations like the PLO and Hamas. "Organizations like the PLO and Hamas try to construct their legitimacy on Jew-hatred and hatred of Israel. But the clans are legitimate by definition," Kedar explained. "They don't need an external enemy to frighten everybody to come under the aegis of an illegitimate ruler."

Sheikh Jaabari emphasized the Palestinian Authority's inability to provide security, stating that it "can't protect us, it can't even protect itself." His fellow sheikhs warned that the PA could permit an October 7-style attack on Israel, after which they expect the West Bank to resemble Gaza's current devastation. However, one prominent Hebron sheikh expressed optimism: "If we will get the blessing of honorable President Trump and the United States for this project, Hebron could be like the Gulf, like Dubai."

This vision aligns with former President Trump's May 13 speech in Saudi Arabia, where he presented Middle Eastern nations with a choice between becoming like Iran or like the Gulf states. The Wall Street Journal reported that the sheikhs have clearly made their decision in favor of the Gulf model.

The initiative's progress has faced timing challenges, with the first five sheikhs initially prepared to proceed at the end of Ramadan after signing the letter on March 24. Barkat requested delays while Israel focused on Gaza operations and then Iran, but he reminds Israeli officials that the sheikhs have risked their lives and operate on their own timeline.

Many additional sheikhs have joined since March, and the leadership expresses confidence in having numerical and military advantages over the Palestinian Authority. "The people are with us," one sheikh declared. "Nobody respects the PA, nobody wants them." The only delay factor is Israel's protective relationship with the Palestinian Authority.

The plan faces significant obstacles within Israel's security establishment. The Wall Street Journal reported that if the sheikhs' armed men take action, the question remains whether the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet security agency would oppose them. Barkat characterized this as a choice between "habit over reason," noting that "Since Oslo, 30 years ago, the Israeli security services have been instructed to work with the PA. It's all they know."

While the Shin Bet declined to comment to The Wall Street Journal, political and security sources indicated that the agency considers the Palestinian Authority crucial for combating West Bank terrorism and has internally opposed the sheikhs' plan. Concerns include potential violence or chaos in other West Bank cities where sheikhs lack preparation, and the IDF has also raised concerns.

Retired Major General Gadi Shamni, who commanded IDF Central Command from 2007-09, expressed skepticism about clan-based governance. "How do you deal with dozens of different families, each of them armed, each under its own control?" he asked. "The IDF would be caught in the crossfire – it would be a mess, a disaster." Shamni rejected the notion that "the national aspirations of Palestinians will disappear and you can deal with each tribe separately."

However, retired Brigadier General Amir Avivi, founder of the Israel Defense and Security Forum, offered a contrasting perspective. He characterized the Palestinian Authority as "the central incubator of terrorism, via school indoctrination and pay-to-slay salaries" and suggested the Shin Bet might reconsider when David Zini, Netanyahu's right-wing nominee, assumes agency leadership.

Avivi has met Sheikh Jaabari multiple times and considers him serious, particularly given his success in rallying numerous other sheikhs. "If Israel's position is that the PA can't be allowed to rule in Gaza because they're terrorists and they're corrupt, why are they OK to rule in the West Bank?" he questioned.

The sheikhs claim they can remove the Palestinian Authority from Hebron within a week or even a single day, depending on their approach's aggressiveness. "Just don't get involved," one leading Hebron sheikh advised Israel. "Be out of the picture." They believe Trump's support could secure Netanyahu's approval.

The clan leaders assert their capability and motivation to combat terrorism effectively. "We know who makes problems and who doesn't because we live in our land," one explained. Ideology and extremism threaten the tribal loyalty and economic pragmatism that undergird the sheikhs' authority.

The Wall Street Journal noted that critics might argue the sheikhs simply want to extract rents currently claimed by the Palestinian Authority. However, the competition's nature reveals the Palestinian Authority's weakness. An Israeli associate showed a video of Palestinian Authority Hebron governor Khaled Doudin complaining in a January 4 speech that the sheikhs' men fire at PA forces but not at Israel.

Palestinian Authority security forces already face restrictions in the sheikhs' neighborhoods and would risk their lives appearing there without prior Israeli coordination. A 2007 incident demonstrated the clans' power when Palestinian police killed a teenage Jaabari clan member. When the Palestinian Authority refused Sheikh Jaabari's father's demand to surrender the shooter, the sheikh's men seized the police station, burned 14 vehicles, and held 34 officers hostage.

The confrontation ended only when President Mahmoud Abbas capitulated, declaring the deceased teenager a martyr and providing lifetime compensation to his family. Since then, the Palestinian Authority has maintained diminished influence in the area.

When asked about concerns that his coexistence vision might be considered a betrayal of Palestinian aspirations, Sheikh Jaabari responded dismissively: "The betrayal was done in Oslo. You forgot, but I remember – 33 years of it," referring to false promises, violence, theft, and poverty despite billions in Western aid. "I believe in my path," the sheikh concluded. "There will be obstacles, but if we confront a rock, we will have iron to break it."

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that a series of recent deadly attacks against Israelis has been funded and encouraged by Iran, just hours before Israeli forces arrested two Palestinian suspects over their involvement in the deadly shooting on Monday, in which one Israeli was killed and another suffered serious wounds.

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"We are in the midst of a terror attack. This terror attack is encouraged, guided, funded by Iran and its satellite states," Netanyahu said in broadcast remarks.

Video: The drive-by shooting occurred in the Mt. Hebron area / Free usage under Israeli copyright law (Section 27A)

He spoke in the West Bank at a site of the attack, visiting with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Hours earlier Batsheva Nigri was shot dead by suspected Palestinian terrorists in front of her 12-year-old daughter after they had hitched a ride with a third Israeli, who was wounded in the attack. In the funeral late Monday, the daughter eulogized her mother, saying, "I just want to give you one last hug." She added, "I know you are watching over me, even though I can't see you. We left Jerusalem, and then I heard shots, and I saw that you were no longer responsive; I shouted, I didn't know what to do and called the medics and told them to come fast." The girl, who was not injured in the attack, concluded, "You always had an open heart; please continue to watch over us from above."

The terrorists shot the three while driving near their car in the Mount Hebron area, on Route 60, the major road running north-to-south in Judea and Samaria.

Israel, he said, would employ measures to settle the score with the attackers and those who sent them, from near or far.

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A Palestinian man carrying a knife was arrested on Friday in the West Bank, Israeli authorities said on Friday. No one was hurt in the incident outside the Israeli town of Kiryat Arba.

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Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops on a routine patrol spotted a suspicious young Palestinian man at the entrance to Kiryat Arba. The troops subjected him to a search, finding a knife on his person and arresting him. The incident took place just as thousands of Israelis began descending on Hebron and the nearby communities to celebrate the "Life of Sarah" events, which memorialize the biblical heritage of the Jews in the city, and specifically the historical figures that are believed to be buried in the Cave of the Patriarchs.

The incident comes days after a stabbing attack in the West Bank city of Ariel, where a Palestinian terrorist killed three Israeli civilians.

Video: The site of the attack / TPS

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Artifacts from the Second Temple Period that have recently been discovered at a dig near the Cave of Patriarchs could be lost as a result of a legal battle.

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The artifacts were discovered during construction works that began earlier this year as part of the effort to make the site more accessible to disabled people.

They include artifacts from various eras, including that of the Ottoman Empire. Among the finds is a chiseled stone that belonged to the nearby Cave of the Patriarchs but was disposed of for some reason, as well as various stones that served as part of a foundation of a building from the Second Temple Period and vestiges of a fort built by the Crusaders.

But the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, which runs the place on behalf of the Ministry of Defense, has decided to seal the excavations with soil in order to make way for a path for disabled visitors. This is partly because of a technicality: The works have been carried out in a limited capacity only as an extension of a license that is limited for the specific accessibility project. The permit cannot be used for an official archaeological purpose and limits excavation only to the extent necessary.

Jewish residents of Hebron have recently launched a campaign to save the artifacts. Noam Arnon, who serves as the community's spokesman, has already written to the Israeli authorities in an effort to reverse the decision. In the letter to the Ministry of Culture and Sports he wrote, "There is no disagreement about  making the site accessible but covering the dig is unnecessary and would cause avoidable harm to precious items that have scientific, cultural, archaeological, and tourism values."

Arnon further told Israel Hayom that there is a way to implement an alternative plan to make this place accessible without inflicting harm on the important artifacts. "There is no doubt that covering the dig would be interpreted by many around the world as a deliberate effort to hurt artifacts and findings from the Islamic period and as a means of erasing part of the physical historical-cultural heritage of the land. This could also result in much worse damage carried out by Palestinians against Jewish sites in retaliation." He further added: "This is a colossal mistake, we have put forth an alternative path that is less expensive and solves this problem. We have been told by the authorities that there is a legal problem, so they should solve it. They shouldn't cover everything and sabotage our history."

The Civil Administration said in a statement that "upon completing the investigation, the professional recommendation was to cover the archaeological finds in a way that would preserve them intact and protect them, in a way that would allow for the site to be developed in the future and have it open to the general public. The Civil Administration considered it paramount to preserve archaeological artifacts and religious-historic sites, as it continues to work toward making the Cave of the Patriarchs more accessible."

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A terrorist who tried to stab Israeli security forces at Hebron's Cave of the Patriarchs was killed during the attack.

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The woman assailant arrived at one of the screening areas at the holy site, where she tried to stab a Border Police officer who was there with other troops. "The Border Police officers saw the danger posed by the terrorist and made sure to neutralize her," the nearby Kiryat Arba municipality said in a statement. "The targeted officer suffered a minor wound to his neck," it continued adding that the road connecting the community to the site remains open. "Security forces are on alert for any contingency," it said.

This is the latest incident in a spate of recent terrorist attacks on Israelis. On Thursday a terrorist from the Palestinian town of Jenin opened fire on people at a bar in central Tel Aviv, killing three. A total of 14 people have been murdered by terrorists in Israel since late March.

As a result of the attacks, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett vowed that Israel would not relent in hitting back at the terrorists and anyone who may have helped them. "We are moving from defense to offense," Bennett said on Saturday.

In a separate incident, a mentally ill Israeli Jew tried to forcibly take a weapon from a female soldier at an Ashkelon bus stop. He was shot dead by the Binyamin Regional Brigade commander who happened to stand nearby. Terrorism has been ruled out.

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A 38-year old man was lightly wounded on Saturday in a stabbing attack in Hebron near the Tomb of the Patriarchs. The perpetrator, a 65-year-old Palestinian woman, from the nearby town of Idhna, was taken for questioning.

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A statement by the Israel Police said the victim fought the attacker until officers arrived at the scene and subdued her without opening fire.

Hebron – considered holy by both Jews and Muslims – is a frequent flashpoint for violence.

The last few weeks have seen an increase in Palestinian terror attacks, with 25-year-old Yehuda Dimantman shot in Judea and Samaria, and four taking place in Jerusalem alone, including the deadly shooting committed by Hamas-affiliated Fadi Abu Shahidam, in which 26-year-old Eliyahu David Kay was killed.

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A salvage archaeological excavation that started last month at the Khirbet al-Taybeh site at Mount Hebron has uncovered Mamluk-era frescoes.

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Archaeologists were excited to discover the frescos.

"It's amazing, because we haven't found things like these in private homes from the Mamluk era," explains Hanania Hizmi, head of the Archaeology Unit in the IDF's Civil Administration.

"We are familiar with wall paintings and frescoes mainly from earlier periods, but not in the Muslim culture," Hizmi continued.

Archaeologist Dotan Traubman, who is overseeing the dig along with Ahiya Hager, added, "This is a world-class find [of the kind] that people travel to Greece and Rome to see."

Khirbet al-Taybeh, a recognized antiquties site since 1944, lies between two hills between the isolated settlements Telem and Adora. Excavations at the site began after residents of Telem informed a Civil Administration inspector about suspicious building activity there. Upon arrival, the inspector noticed a group of Palestinians who had begun a series of illegal projects.

Hizmi launched a salvage excavation to seek out any interesting finds that Khirbet al-Taybeh might be concealing. Despite its official antiquities status, the site had never been researched.

"We noticed that the terraces the Palestinians had set up included ancient stones, and their sifting had uncovered the top level of the structure," he revealed.

The frescos date back some 800 years and feature the same decorations used to embellished ceramic vessels in the same period.

"In the Islamic Period it was forbidden to portray human faces, and they drew flowers and animals," Traubman explained. "It was necessary to bring in an artist who is an expert in drawings like these and in the area of painted plaster, and the owner [of the building] was rich enough for him to create something you didn't see in every home – which is why this find is so rare and important, and should be on display in a museum."

For now, the archaeological work has stopped the illegal Palestinian construction. According to Telem secretary Baruchi Bronstein, "Everyone is aware of this place's strategic importance to the region. It connects the Palestinian communities to the Jewish ones, and it's clear that the war over it isn't over."

Head of the Har Hevron Regional Council Yochai Damari noted that the Palestinians' attempt to encroach on Area C, which is under Israeli control, is taking place throughout the region.

"Khirbet al-Taybeh is not the first or the only place where there has been an attempt to take over historical sites. Unfortunately, no one is doing much of anything, and we are left with the glum reality on the ground," Damari said.

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A military court on Wednesday found a prominent Palestinian activist guilty on six charges related to his participation in demonstrations in the West Bank city of Hebron against Jewish settlements and alleged human rights violations.

Issa Amro was convicted on three counts of protesting without a permit, two counts of obstructing security forces, and one count of assault. The charges date back to 2010, according to a statement put out by his supporters, which said sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 8.

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It was not clear what kind of sentence he might receive. The Israel Defense Forces and Amro's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Amro is a well-known activist who has been detained multiple times, often after confrontations with settlers in which he claims he was attacked and beaten. The Palestinian Authority detained him for a week in 2017 over a Facebook post critical of President Mahmoud Abbas.

Amro's supporters say the charges are linked to his participation in various peaceful protests over the years. They said the assault charge stems from a previously closed case in 2010 in which Amro allegedly shoved someone during a scuffle in which he said he was assaulted.

Amnesty International said in a statement ahead of Wednesday's hearing that Amro faces "politically motivated charges for his peaceful activism against Israel's military occupation and illegal settlements."

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