The Sheikhs of Hebron Leaving Palestinian Authority

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                    

A group of prominent sheikhs in Hebron have recently proposed to break away from the Palestinian Authority (PA), establish an independent "Emirate of Hebron," and join the Abraham Accords with Israel !

                                 painting of Hebron by Shmuel Mushnick

This is amazing news. In the Bible, Hebron was also called Kiriath-Arba and was an ancient city of Judah located 18 miles south of Jerusalem.  Before Abraham's time, it was under the control of the Hittites.  Abraham bought from them a plot of land called the Cave of Machpelah located in Hebron in which to bury his wife, Sarah.  today, a mosque stands on the reputed site.  Joshua assigned Hebron to Caleb and it became a levitical city and a city of refuge.David reigned there for 7 1/2 years before transferring his capital to Jerusalem.

Key points

• This proposal is spearheaded by Sheikh Wadee' al-Jaabari and other leading sheikhs from influential clans in Hebron.
• They advocate for peace and full recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
• They cite resentment at the PA's corruption and ineffectiveness as a key reason for their proposal.
• The sheikhs envision a future of cooperation and coexistence with Israel, including potentially enabling Hebron residents to work in Israel.
• Israeli officials, including Economy Minister Nir Barkat, have reportedly shown interest in the proposal. 
• WSJ's Elliot Kaufman  reported on July 5, 2025 that The idea of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians has never seemed more futile than in the months since Oct. 7, 2023. But maybe that opens the door to a new way of achieving peace.

  “We want cooperation with Israel,” says Sheikh Wadee’ al-Jaabari, also known as Abu Sanad, from his ceremonial tent in Hebron, the West Bank’s largest city located south of Jerusalem. “We want coexistence.” The leader of Hebron’s most influential clan has said such things before, as did his father. But this time is different. Sheikh Jaabari and four other leading Hebron sheikhs have signed a letter pledging peace and full recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. Their plan is for Hebron to break out of the Palestinian Authority, establish an emirate of its own, and join the Abraham Accords.

Divergent viewpoints

• Some see this initiative as a potential path to peace and a way to circumvent the current political deadlock.
• Others question the legitimacy and representativeness of these sheikhs, arguing that they don't necessarily reflect the views of the majority of Hebron residents.
• Some criticize the proposal as a distraction from the larger goal of Palestinian self-determination and statehood, arguing that it undermines the Palestinian Authority and could further fragment Palestinian society.
• The proposal has sparked both interest and concern, with some viewing it as a hopeful sign and others as a potentially dangerous maneuver.
• According to The Wall Street Journal opinion piece published on July 10, 2025, the proposal reflects a colonial strategy of “divide and conquer”. 

The situation remains fluid and it remains to be seen whether this proposal will gain wider support and translate into a concrete plan. 

Update: 7/11/25 5:07am 

In a striking escalation of tensions, Palestinian youths set fire to the vehicle of Sheikh Wadee al-Jaabari, known as "Abu Sanad," in the Issawiya neighborhood of East Jerusalem on Wednesday. The attack follows al-Jaabari’s bold initiative to establish an "Emirate of Hebron" and his public call to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, a stance that has sparked both intrigue and outrage.