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According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, five dominant sheikhs in the Hebron area held talks with Economy Minister Barkat on the issue and sent him a letter on the matter. "The Emirate of Hebron will recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, and Israel in the Emirate of Hebron," the sheikhs wrote.
A group of sheikhs from the Hebron area sent a letter to Economy Minister Nir Barkat expressing their desire to live in coexistence and cooperation with Israel, to disengage from the Palestinian Authority, to establish an "emirate" and to join the Abraham Accords, according to an article published Sunday in the Wall Street Journa
Of the group, only Sheikh Wadi al-Jabari, also known as Abu Sanad, agreed to be interviewed on his behalf. "We want cooperation with Israel," he said, "we want coexistence with Israel." The letter, which he signed together with four other influential sheikhs, is addressed to Minister Barkat, who according to the report, has met with the group at his home several times since February. The sheikhs asked Barkat to present their letter, detailing their plan for the establishment of the "Hebron Emirate" and disengagement from the Palestinian Authority, to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
"The Emirate of Hebron will recognize the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people," the sheikhs wrote in their letter, "and the State of Israel will recognize the Emirate of Hebron as the representative of the Arab residents of the Hebron District." In the letter, they sought to create a timetable for negotiations to join the Abraham Accords and "a fair and decent arrangement that would replace the Oslo Accords, which brought only damage, death, economic disaster and destruction."
Al-Jabari does not believe that a Palestinian state will be established, "not even in 1,000 years. After October 7, Israel will not allow this." Another sheikh, who signed the letter but did not want to be interviewed on his behalf, added: "Thinking only about the establishment of a Palestinian state will bring us all to disaster."
In the shadow of the suspension of work permits for Palestinians in Israel, the sheikhs propose that Israel bring in 1,000 workers from Hebron for a probationary period, and then another 5,000. Sheikh Jabari and another senior sheikh said that Barkat told them that this number would increase to 50,000 or more workers from Hebron.
According to the Journal, Barkat dealt with the sheikhs with the knowledge of the Israeli government. A senior Israeli source told the newspaper that Netanyahu expressed support for the talks but remained cautious, and that he was waiting to see how the initiative develops.
Minister Barkat's office echoed the article. "No one in Israel believes in the Palestinian Authority, and you won't find many Palestinians who do," he claimed. "Sheikh Jabari wants peace with Israel and to join the Abraham Accords – with the support of other sheikhs. Who in Israel would say no to that?"
Meanwhile, an Arab diplomat from one of the countries in the region recently told Kan News that a major effort is being made by Arab countries to bring about a "blitz" of recognition of a Palestinian state by countries in Europe and Asia in the near future.
On the American side, on the other hand, other winds are blowing. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who is known to be a supporter of the settlements, recently told Bloomberg News that the United States no longer "wholeheartedly" supports an independent state for the Palestinians. In the interview, Huckabee said that a Palestinian state could be established elsewhere, but not in the West Bank. "Unless there are significant changes in culture, there is no place for that," he said, adding that in his estimation, an independent Palestinian state will not be established "in our lifetime."
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, five dominant sheikhs in the Hebron area held talks with Economy Minister Barkat on the issue and sent him a letter on the matter. "The Emirate of Hebron will recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, and Israel in the Emirate of Hebron," the sheikhs wrote.
A group of sheikhs from the Hebron area sent a letter to Economy Minister Nir Barkat expressing their desire to live in coexistence and cooperation with Israel, to disengage from the Palestinian Authority, to establish an "emirate" and to join the Abraham Accords, according to an article published Sunday in the Wall Street Journa
Of the group, only Sheikh Wadi al-Jabari, also known as Abu Sanad, agreed to be interviewed on his behalf. "We want cooperation with Israel," he said, "we want coexistence with Israel." The letter, which he signed together with four other influential sheikhs, is addressed to Minister Barkat, who according to the report, has met with the group at his home several times since February. The sheikhs asked Barkat to present their letter, detailing their plan for the establishment of the "Hebron Emirate" and disengagement from the Palestinian Authority, to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
"The Emirate of Hebron will recognize the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people," the sheikhs wrote in their letter, "and the State of Israel will recognize the Emirate of Hebron as the representative of the Arab residents of the Hebron District." In the letter, they sought to create a timetable for negotiations to join the Abraham Accords and "a fair and decent arrangement that would replace the Oslo Accords, which brought only damage, death, economic disaster and destruction."
Al-Jabari does not believe that a Palestinian state will be established, "not even in 1,000 years. After October 7, Israel will not allow this." Another sheikh, who signed the letter but did not want to be interviewed on his behalf, added: "Thinking only about the establishment of a Palestinian state will bring us all to disaster."
In the shadow of the suspension of work permits for Palestinians in Israel, the sheikhs propose that Israel bring in 1,000 workers from Hebron for a probationary period, and then another 5,000. Sheikh Jabari and another senior sheikh said that Barkat told them that this number would increase to 50,000 or more workers from Hebron.
According to the Journal, Barkat dealt with the sheikhs with the knowledge of the Israeli government. A senior Israeli source told the newspaper that Netanyahu expressed support for the talks but remained cautious, and that he was waiting to see how the initiative develops.
Minister Barkat's office echoed the article. "No one in Israel believes in the Palestinian Authority, and you won't find many Palestinians who do," he claimed. "Sheikh Jabari wants peace with Israel and to join the Abraham Accords – with the support of other sheikhs. Who in Israel would say no to that?"
Meanwhile, an Arab diplomat from one of the countries in the region recently told Kan News that a major effort is being made by Arab countries to bring about a "blitz" of recognition of a Palestinian state by countries in Europe and Asia in the near future.
On the American side, on the other hand, other winds are blowing. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who is known to be a supporter of the settlements, recently told Bloomberg News that the United States no longer "wholeheartedly" supports an independent state for the Palestinians. In the interview, Huckabee said that a Palestinian state could be established elsewhere, but not in the West Bank. "Unless there are significant changes in culture, there is no place for that," he said, adding that in his estimation, an independent Palestinian state will not be established "in our lifetime."
