Hebron sheikhs want to leave Palestinian Authority, join Abraham Accords
“We want cooperation with Israel,” says Sheikh Wadee’ al-Jaabari. “We want coexistence.”
Israel Today
Jul 6, 2025
Sheikh Wadee’ al-Jaabari and four other
top officials in the West Bank’s Hebron district proposed a plan to
establish their own emirate and join the Abraham Accords.
Sheikh Wadee’ al-Jaabari and four other prominent clan leaders from Hebron have signed a letter pledging peace and full recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. Their plan: Hebron would secede from the Palestinian Authority, establish an independent emirate, and join the Abraham Accords.
The letter, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, is addressed to Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat, former mayor of Jerusalem, who has hosted the Hebron sheikhs at his home and met with them more than ten times since February. They have requested that he forward the letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and are awaiting his response.
“The Hebron Emirate will recognize the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people,” the sheikhs write, “and the State of Israel will recognize the Hebron Emirate as the representative of the Arab residents of the Hebron district.”
The letter calls for setting a timeline for negotiations to join the Abraham Accords and to reach a “fair and proper” arrangement to replace the Oslo Accords, which they claim “have brought only harm, death, economic disaster, and destruction.” The Oslo Accords, signed in the 1990s between Israel and the PLO, “brought us the corrupt Palestinian Authority instead of recognizing the traditional and authentic leadership – the tribes.”
The sheikhs propose that Israel allow 1,000 workers from Hebron to enter for a trial period, followed by an additional 5,000. According to them, Barkat indicated that this number could grow to 50,000 workers or more. Employment in Israel is a vital source of income for Palestinians, but most permits were frozen after October 7. The letter commits to “zero tolerance for terrorism from workers” – “in contrast to the current situation, where the Palestinian Authority pays terrorists.”
Barkat argues that the old peace process has failed, and “new thinking is required.” He is acting with the knowledge of the Israeli government, and Netanyahu is said to cautiously support the initiative.
The Journal article highlights a long-standing partnership with Jewish residents of Judea, so-called “settlers,” noting that they “will find much to like in the plan.” The sheikhs’ letter mentions talks with Yossi Dagan, head of the Yesha Council of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Dagan says he supports the plan and has indeed worked on it with the sheikhs. He notes that he first met Sheikh Jaabari 13 years ago: “His father was a courageous leader who put his people first, and so does the son.”
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