Hebron Tribal Leaders Seek to Join Abraham Accords, Split from PA, Recognize Israel as Jewish State*_

 

According to a Wall Street Journal report, five prominent tribal sheikhs from Hebron are pushing to join the Abraham Accords, calling to replace the Palestinian Authority (PA) with their own leadership and expressing full recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.

“We want cooperation with Israel,” said Sheikh Wadi’ al-Ja’abari. “We want coexistence.”

Al-Ja’abari and four other sheikhs signed a formal letter committing to peace and full recognition of Israel. Their plan: for Hebron to separate from the Palestinian Authority, establish an autonomous emirate, and officially join the Abraham Accords.

The letter was addressed to Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat, former mayor of Jerusalem, who has met with the sheikhs more than ten times since February and hosted them at his home. They’ve asked Barkat to deliver the letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and are currently awaiting a response.

“The Hebron Emirate will recognize the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people,” the sheikhs write, “and Israel will recognize the Hebron Emirate as the representative of the Arab residents of the Hebron district.”

The letter proposes establishing a timeline for negotiations to join the Abraham Accords and replace the Oslo Accords, which they say led only to “harm, death, economic disaster, and destruction.” They argue that Oslo empowered a corrupt Palestinian Authority at the expense of “authentic and traditional leadership — the tribes.”

As part of their economic vision, the sheikhs are asking for permission for 1,000 Hebron residents to begin working in Israel, with the potential to expand to 5,000 and even 50,000 over time. Barkat reportedly told them that such a scale-up is possible. The letter promises “zero tolerance for terrorism by workers,” in contrast to the PA, which they note pays salaries to imprisoned attackers.

Minister Barkat says the traditional peace process has failed and believes “new thinking is needed.” He is advancing the plan with the knowledge of the Israeli government, and while Netanyahu has expressed cautious support, he is waiting to see how it develops.

Now that Sheikh al-Ja’abari has gone public, pressure is mounting.

The article emphasizes the longstanding ties between Hebron tribal leaders and the settler community, stating that settlers “will find much to embrace in the plan.” The sheikhs also note their cooperation with Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, who confirmed he’s been working with them on the initiative.

“I first met Sheikh al-Ja’abari 13 years ago,” said Dagan. “His father was a brave leader who put his people first — and so does the son.”