Five Hebron sheikhs pen letter asking to join Abraham Accords as emirate, dismiss two-state solution — report

A group of five leading sheikhs in the Palestinian Authority’s Hebron district sent a letter to the government expressing a desire to join the Abraham Accords and to have peace with Israel, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The letter, addressed to Economy Minister Nir Barkat, expresses the sheikhs’ desire to break off from the Palestinian Authority and establish Hebron as an emirate that “recognize[s] the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.”

Then, “the State of Israel shall recognize the Emirate of Hebron as the Representative of the Arab residents in the Hebron District.”

The letter describes the proposed arrangement as “fair and decent,” and says ot can replace the Oslo Accords, “which only brought damage, death, economic disaster and destruction.”

Barkat tells the WSJ that the old two-state paradigm has failed, and that the Palestinian Authority is not trusted among its people and in Israel. The minister has hosted Sheikh Wadee’ al-Jaabari — one of the most influential Hebron clan leaders and the spearhead of the initiative — and other sheikhs at his home in Jerusalem for dozens of meetings since February.

“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 says.

“There will be no Palestinian state — not even in 1,000 years,” Jaabari tells the newspaper. “After October 7, Israel will not give it.”

Another sheikh who joined the initiative concurred: “To think only about making a Palestinian state will bring us all to disaster.”

The WSJ says other sheikhs who agree with the initiative spoke anonymously to ensure their safety.

Jabari has long criticized the PA and backed cooperation with Israeli settlers, but has remained a marginalized figure in Palestinian national politics.