Hebron locals denounce sheikhs' plan to declare independence and recognise Israel
The outrage was sparked by a Wall Street Journal article reporting that "five sheikhs" from Hebron penned a letter to the Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat, backing Israel as a Jewish state and proposing to establish their own emirate and join normalisation agreements with Israel.
The letter further suggested the creation of an Israeli-West Bank industrial zone and pledged "zero tolerance" for "terrorism by Palestinian workers".
"Accepting Israel as a Jewish state goes further than the Palestinian Authority ever has, and sweeps aside decades of rejectionism," the report said.
According to the report, the initiative was helmed by Wadee' al-Jaabari, who local city residents and its political leadership claim is unknown to them, and backed by "four other leading Hebron sheikhs".
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Palestinian city residents, including Jaabari's extended family members, roundly condemned the proposal, saying that its authors do not represent them.
Hebron-based activist and journalist Issa Amro said that the proposal and its authors are "complete fabrications".
"The so-called 'Hebron sheikhs' in this WSJ piece are complete fabrications - anonymous figures with zero political presence, social standing, family ties and community recognition," he told Middle East Eye.
'This isn't journalism - it's inventing Palestinian 'leaders' to fit an artificial narrative while real Hebronites endure occupation'
- Issa Amro, Hebron activist
"No media, no clans, no Palestinian factions acknowledge them because they simply don't exist as consequential actors. This isn't journalism - it's inventing Palestinian 'leaders' to fit an artificial narrative while real Hebronites endure occupation," he added.
Local political figures also expressed surprise at the report, noting that the authors of the letter had no real influence in the city and that Jaabari in fact lives in Jerusalem.
Jaabari's own family issued a statement denouncing the plan, saying that it "in no way represent the position of our respected family and does not reflect the will of its members".
"The Jaabari family has always been – and remains – part of the Palestinian national fabric, justly struggling for freedom and independence. We reject all attempts to normalise the occupation or grant it legitimacy."
The family told Haaretz that Jaabari "is known for his ties to settlers and Israeli institutions, which primarily serve his personal and business interests", and that his initiative enjoys "no public support".
In a post on X, Amro said the WSJ report "names no verifiable sources and ignores documented power structures" and constitutes "either shockingly poor journalism or deliberate misinformation".
"At a time when Hebron faces very real challenges - from expanding settlements to military closures - this fictional narrative does a grave disservice to readers and Palestinians alike," he said.
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