Response to "A Hebron 'Emirate' or a Colonial Deception?," July 10, 2025

Submitted to the Wall Street Journal July 10, 2025

Dear Editor:

Mahmoud Jabari's commentary, "A Hebron 'Emirate' or a Colonial Deception?" made abundant use of one of the few truthful statements he wrote, "The most dangerous lies are those wrapped in familiar clothing."

He falsely wrote that the PLO "recognized Israel’s right to exist in 1993." This is contradicted not only by the fact that, despite a charade orchestrated in Gaza in 1996, the PLO's charter continues to call for the destruction of Israel, but also by Arafat's successor as PLO chair, Mahmoud Abbas, who has repeatedly asserted he will never recognize Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people. Since the essence of Israel is precisely its status as the nation state of the Jewish people, to deny Israel's Jewish character is to deny Israel's right to exist.

This is only the most prominent lie in a commentary reeking with dangerous lies wrapped in familiar clothing.

Sincerely,

Alan Stein

Natick, Massachusetts and Netanya, Israel

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