Top West Bank sheiks propose, recognizing the state of Israel, leaving Palestinian Authority: letter
The sheikhs penned a letter to Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat, expressing their desire to transform The West Bank's largest district into an emirate that 'recognize[s] the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people,' the Wall Street Journal reported.
Sheikh Wadee' al-Jaabari — one of the most influential leaders in Hebron, the West Bank's largest region — urged Israel and President Trump, who oversaw the Abraham Accords in his first term, to back the plan for self-governance.
5 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.
5 The West Bank has been marred by violence that has ramped up since the war with Gaza began, with the sheikhs blaming the Palestinian Authority's failures.
AFP via Getty Images
'If we will get the blessing of honorable President Trump and the United States for this project, Hebron could be like the Gulf, like Dubai,' Jaabari told the outlet.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has stood as the de facto rulers of the autonomous Palestinian regions since 1994 as part of the US-backed Oslo Accords, which Jaabari and other sheikhs slammed as an agreement that 'only brought damage, death, economic disaster and destruction.'
They said the PA was forced on the Palestinian people and never brought the prosperity and peace Israel and the US promised — as evidenced by violence along the border and Hamas' operation inside the West Bank.
Jabbari and his supporters have instead tapped Trump's Abraham Accords as a roadmap to 'coexistence' with Israel. The agreement previously normalizing relationships between the Jewish state and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.
5 Israel's Economy Minister Nir Barkat touted the proposal for an independent Hebron as a way forward for Israeli-Palestinian relations.
Bloomberg via Getty Images
With the West Bank occupied by Israel and seeing daily violence that has only escalated since the war with Hamas began, Jaabari proposed a trial run that would see 1,000 Hebron workers establish an autonomous 1,000-acre economic zone bordering Israel.
If all goes well, the zone would grow to 5,000 more residents and then 50,000, with the sheikhs pledging to a 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorism.
Jabbari accused the PA of supporting terrorist activity in the West Bank.
'I plan to cut off the PA,' Jaabari vowed. 'It doesn't represent the Palestinians.'
5 It remains to be seen how a deal can move forward under Israeli occupation, where clashes between residents of soldiers are common.
AP
Barkat, who has been meeting with the sheikhs since February to discuss a potential deal, touted the proposal as a step forward for Israeli-Palestinian relations.
'Sheikh Jaabari wants peace with Israel and to join the Abraham Accords, with the support of his fellow sheikhs. Who in Israel is going to say no?' Barkat told the WSJ.
'Nobody in Israel believes in the PA, and you won't find many Palestinians who do either,' he added.
5 Hebron stands as the West Bank's largest district and serves as its commercial center.
AFP via Getty Images
It remains to be seen how the bold proposal will be accepted by the Jewish state and Hebron residents alike, with some from the West Bank slamming the proposal and claiming it 'doesn't represent us,' Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.
The formation of the new zone could also cause problems along the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, but the sheikhs claim the land disputes can be easily negotiated.
Jabbari and his colleagues assured Barkat that they will be able to drum up support for the proposal, touting it as the only hope to prevent Hebron and the West Bank from becoming another Gaza.
Jabbari maintains that his proposal is the best solution for his people given that Hamas crushed all hopes for a Palestinian state when it attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people and kidnapping another 251.
'There will be no Palestinian state — not even in 1,000 years. After Oct. 7, Israel will not give it,' Jabbari said.
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