West Bank Sheikh Faces Threats After Proposing Peace With Israel

A powerful tribal leader in Hebron is facing violent threats and political backlash after proposing a groundbreaking peace plan that would break from the Palestinian Authority and align with Israel under the Abraham Accords.

Sheikh Wadee’ al-Jaabari, who leads one of the largest and most influential clans in the West Bank, is pushing to create an independent Emirate of Hebron a move that would not only recognize Israel as the Jewish state, but also dismantle decades of entrenched, corrupt Palestinian rule.

“We want cooperation with Israel. We want coexistence,” al-Jaabari told the Wall Street Journal, igniting a political firestorm in the region.

Supported by 21 other sheikhs representing more than 550,000 residents, al-Jaabari’s initiative would oust the Palestinian Authority from Hebron and establish a new Arab-led governance model focused on peace, economic development, and fighting terrorism. According to insiders, the sheikhs believe they are better armed and more organized than the PA’s security forces.

Their vision includes:

• Recognizing Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people

• Creating a joint economic zone along the security fence

• Requesting 50,000 Israeli work permits for Hebron Arabs

• Dismantling PA control and rejecting its extremist agenda

In their letter to Israel’s Economy Minister Nir Barkat, the sheikhs declared that “the Emirate of Hebron shall recognize the State of Israel,” demanding mutual recognition and collaboration.

But not everyone in al-Jaabari’s clan agrees. After the proposal went public, family members aligned with the PA quickly disavowed the sheikh, accusing him of betraying “Palestinian national principles.” In response, the supporting sheikhs fired back, saying those family members were “institutionally connected” to the PA and terrified of losing their political influence.

This tension underscores the broader reality: Palestinian Authority rule has failed, and the Arab population in Judea and Samaria is beginning to see it. The PA’s culture of incitement, corruption, and its notorious “pay-to-slay” program, which rewards terrorists for killing Israelis and Americans, has worn thin even among its own people.

Israeli residents of Hebron have welcomed the proposal.
“These sheikhs are putting their lives on the line for this plan,” said Yishai Fleischer, spokesperson for Hebron’s Jewish community. “This plan is the end of the rule of the thuggish PA that tortures people and brainwashes kids to jihad.”

The sheikhs now hope to gain the backing of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, just ahead of their upcoming White House meeting. With Trump prioritizing the expansion of the Abraham Accords, the timing couldn’t be more critical or more promising.

This is more than a policy shift it’s a historic break from decades of failed leadership and empty promises. And if the Hebron Emirate becomes a reality, it could reshape the entire peace process in the region.

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