Umm al-Fahm mayor resigns, backpedals after post mourning terrorists

Umm al-Fahm Mayor Samir Sobhi Mahamed resigned from his position in a surprise announcement on live television Thursday, after coming under fire for posting a condolence message mourning two Islamic State-inspired terrorists who killed two Border Police officers in a shooting attack in Hadera earlier this week.

Two hours later, Mahamed had another surprise: He was not quitting after all and would stay in his post, after supporters and others pressed him not to resign.

The rollercoaster began Thursday afternoon, when the city posted a message on Facebook, signed by Mahamed, mourning the deaths of Ayman and Ibrahim Ighbariah, cousins from the northern Arab city, who were killed by police during an attack Sunday in which they fatally shot officers Yazan Falah and Shirel Aboukrat.

The post was deleted about an hour later, and Mahamed apologized, saying the message had been posted by an outside contractor and he had not seen it before publication. He condemned the murders.

But speaking to the Kan broadcaster at 8 p.m., Mahamed said he would take responsibility for the post, while noting that condolence posts for residents are rote and he does not look at all of them.

“It shouldn’t have been sent out,” he said. “I understand everyone who is angry.”

“If I need to resign, I will resign,” he said. “I came here to benefit the Arab community. If my resignation will benefit the community, that’s what I will do,” he stated.

Asked by the reporter whether he was resigning or considering his resignation, the mayor said: “You know what, this is my redemption. Yes, I announce my resignation. I’m leaving this position with a lot of pain because I came here to contribute.”

Following the move, fellow Arab mayors and others met with Mahamad in a bid to convince him to stay in the role.

A source within the Umm al-Fahm municipality told Channel 12 that several government ministers called Mahamed, urging him not to resign.

At 10 p.m., Mahamed told Hebrew language news sites that the pressure had worked and he would stick around.

“Thank you all for the support, I won’t resign,” he said.

Mahamed’s announcement had seemed to surprise the municipality, which said it was not aware of his intended resignation.

“It surprised us all,” Mahamed’s spokesperson told Channel 12. “The decision was made without consulting anyone.”

Another spokesperson speaking on behalf of the municipality said Mahamed “had nothing to do with the post.”

“We’ve condemned, we still condemn the crime committed in Hadera,” he told Kan before walking back on the resignation. “It didn’t come from us, as far as we’re concerned murder is murder.”

“My agenda and vision have always been… tolerance, activism, and partnership, and I always tried to implement those values in collaborations with the Jewish community and that is what I will continue to do,” he added.