BREAKING: “The Emirate of Hebron shall recognize the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people," write five Hebron sheikhs, backed by 16 more.
This unveils a peace initiative they've been working on with Israel's Nir Barkat since February, meeting at his home.
Led by Sheikh Jaabari, the Hebron sheikhs propose to break out of the PA, establish their own emirate and join the Abraham Accords so their people can prosper.
By recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, they go further for peace than the PA or PLO ever has.
Minister Barkat has been working with the knowledge of his government to explore possibilities with the sheikhs.
He says people ask Israel, “You’re against the two-state solution, and you’re against the one-state solution, so what the hell are you for?”
He found his answer.
“You’ve seen the letter?” exclaims Dr. Mordechai Kedar. That means it’s really happening.
For 20 years, he’s been selling the idea of Palestinian emirates, with the West Bank’s seven distinctive cities run by their clans.
He introduced Sheikh Jaabari to Minister Barkat.
I spoke with five Hebron sheikhs. Their letter, to be delivered to PM Netanyahu, seeks “a fair and decent arrangement that would replace the Oslo Accords, which only brought damage, death, economic disaster and destruction to both sides.”
The Hebron sheikhs despise the PA and PLO.
“The PLO called itself a liberation movement. But once they got control, they act only to steal the money of the people,” one major sheikh says. “They don’t have right to represent us—not them and not Hamas, only we ourselves.”
“We want the world to hear our pain,” another sheikh tells me.
“The PA steals everything. They even steal our water. We don’t have water to drink.”
The sheikhs' letter mentions Israeli settler leader Yossi Dagan, with whom they met several times. He says he supports and has worked on the plan.
Of Sheikh Jaabari, Dagan says, “His father was a courageous leader who put his people first, and the son is the same.”
With the support of President Trump, the sheikhs want to join the Abraham Accords and make Hebron, the West Bank's largest city, look like Dubai.
If nothing changes, they fear the PA will allow an Oct. 7-style attack, and then their home will look like Gaza.
From Israel, the sheikhs expect 50,000 or more work permits for Hebron residents and a joint economic zone.
Most of all, they want Israel not to rescue the PA.
“Just don’t get involved,” a leading Hebron sheikh advises. “Be out of the picture.”
A New Palestinian Offer for Peace With Israel
Hebron’s sheikhs propose to leave the Palestinian Authority and join the Abraham Accords.
Read below for my full story (no paywall) in the WSJ.
wsj.com/opinion/new-pa…
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.