People hold Fatah flags during a protest in support of the people of Gaza, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Hebron, in the West Bank, Oct. 27, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

Earlier this week, Elliot Kaufman of The Wall Street Journal published an article citing leading clans in Hebron declaring their desire to “break out of the Palestinian Authority, establish an Emirate of its own and join the Abraham Accords.”

The group is led by Sheikh Wadee’ al-Jaabari, the leader of Hebron’s most influential clan.

Kaufman writes that:

The first circle [of support] has eight major sheikhs, who together are believed to lead 204,000 local residents. The second circle lists 13 more sheikhs, who lead another 350,000. That makes a majority of the more than 700,000 people in the area. Both circles have sworn allegiance to Sheikh Jaabari in this matter.

The Sheikhs want to recognize Israel and live in peace beside Israel.

A group from the Jaabari family immediately released a video statement of condemnation of the move against the PA, which was posted on a Hamas Telegram channel:

In response to what was published in the media and on social networks, regarding an alleged political initiative to separate from the PA and establish the Hebron Emirate. To our great people:

1- The Al-Ja’abari clan has sacrificed hundreds of Martyrs, wounded, and prisoners on the land of Palestine.

2- We as the Al-Ja’abari clan, announce our complete disavowal, and we condemn what was done by one of the clan members, who we do not recognize, and he is not a resident of Hebron.

3- The Al-Ja’abari clan in Hebron and in all places inside and outside, emphasizes its commitment to Islamic and national principles, and to our people’s rights to self-determination, and to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, on all our national land (i.e., including Israel).

4- This is our permanent position in the present and in the future, and we will not deviate from it, whatever the circumstances may be.”

Posted text: “The Al-Ja’abari clan announces its disavowal of normalization with the occupation (i.e., Israel) and condemns the demand to ‘establish a tribal emirate’ in Hebron.”

[“Quds News Network” Telegram channel, July, 6, 2025]

Significantly, even though this is a declaration of war against the Palestinian Authority, the PA chose not to respond in its official media, as if nothing significant had happened.

The official PA daily did not even mention the story in Monday’s newspaper and WAFA, the official news agency, by 4:00 pm still had not mentioned it on its news site. Official PA TV, likewise, by midday had not mentioned it.

It’s possible that the PA does not want to lend credence to Palestinians organizing against its autocratic rule and is hoping that by ignoring it, the problem will dissipate. However, reading the article and seeing the depths of the hatred expressed toward the Palestinian Authority, it is likely the sheikhs wouldn’t have taken such a public step if they didn’t feel they had broad support of the people.

From semi-official Fatah Telegram source, there was one response of condemnation from “Hebron families”:

Families of the Hebron district respond to the report in the American newspaper “Wall Street Journal,” which stated that 5 prominent sheikhs from the city of Hebron want to join the normalization agreements with Israel and separate from the rule of the Palestinian Authority in the city.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful…

In the shadow of the brutal attack by the Israeli occupation forces and its settlers on the Hebron district, and against the backdrop of the situation in the Strip of the brave, the Strip of heroes and the legendary steadfastness in Gaza – and in the shadow of the insistence of the occupation and its vile Zionist leaders, Ben Gvir and Smotrich, to swallow lands and take control of them, and to expand the settlements in the Hebron district…

Families of the Hebron district – the public of the city of Hebron –

From the depth of our belonging to this land, we emphasize that we will not be dragged after new “village associations,” under a new name…

And we will emphasize the following:

Firstly, The Palestinian Authority and its security mechanisms are a red line, and we will not agree to harm it, nor the Palestinian national project, for which thousands of Martyrs, wounded, and prisoners were sacrificed.

Secondly – We emphasize our firm rejection of the ‘village associations’ project in the Hebron district, and we say to those who receive payment [to act] against our people’s cause: ‘Return to the right path!’.

Thirdly – Hebron, the city of our master Abraham, the friend [of Allah], will continue to be unbreakable…

[Hebron] will continue to be a thorn in the throats of the traitors and those hired against our national cause.

Glory to the Martyrs, healing to the wounded, freedom to the prisoners.”

“Families of the Hebron district” [Jenin News, July 6, 2025]

Palestinian Media Watch will continue monitoring and reporting as this story updates, from official and unofficial sources.

The author is the Founder and Director of Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article first appeared.