The Leader of the Clan

Peacemaker and Potentate?

By J. Jeff Toler for Shenandoah Christian Alliance  j.toler@sca4christ.org

Just recently, Sheikh Wadee’ al-Jaabari, the leader of Hebron’s most influential clan, has proposed breaking away from the Palestine Authority (PA) and join the Abraham Accords by forming an independent emirate. The aim is to seek peace with Israel. 

Hebron is the West Bank’s largest city, and the news of al-Jaabari’s proposal is bound to invite violent threats to his life and create trouble, to the point of upheaval in that region.

After making his intentions public in a recent Wall Street Journal interview, a source close to al-Jaabari told The Daily Wire that he has received multiple threats since the interview was published Saturday.

Al-Jaabari is reportedly backed by 21 other sheikhs, collectively representing over 550,000 Arabs in the Hebron area, which has a total population of around 700,000. Despite the threats, he and his allies believe they can overpower the Palestinian Authority (PA), supported by their own militia and popular backing.

According to the sheikhs, it would take just one day to a week to expel the PA from Hebron.

The announcement comes ahead of a planned meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former President Donald Trump. The Hebron leaders hope to gain support from both for their peace-oriented initiative.

In a significant departure from the traditional two-state model, al-Jaabari signed a letter to Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat recognizing Israel as a Jewish state and proposing mutual recognition.

The letter, co-signed by four other senior sheikhs, who prefer to remain anonymous due to obvious safety concerns, declared, “The Emirate of Hebron shall recognize the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people, and the State of Israel shall recognize the Emirate of Hebron as the representative of the Arab residents in the Hebron District.”

This initiative would effectively sever the Hebron region from the Palestinian Authority, who rigidly, maniacally, reject Israel’s legitimacy as a Jewish state.

Al-Jaabari argues that the PA, headquartered in Ramallah, does not represent the Palestinian people, and that the traditional clan-based leadership offers a more stable and authentic form of governance for the region.

“We want cooperation with Israel,” al-Jaabari told the WSJ. “We want coexistence.”

Known for his pro-Israel views, al-Jaabari has long opposed the PA’s anti-Israel stance. In the proposed agreement, the sheikhs would prioritize fighting terrorism and maintaining regional security.

This development is all the more intriguing in light of the America’s humiliation of Iran by the recent B2 bomber annihilation of nuclear facilities. That is clearly impacting the Palestinian Authority—their client state.

Before we begin to predict how this will play out in the days and months to come, bear in mind how this region figures into biblical prophecy and the future of the world. Consider why this region is so important to so many people of all the world’s great religions—not just Islam. Begin with this amazing passage by the prophet Samuel.

• All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’” When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. —2 Samuel 5:1-5

Some will tell us al-Jaabari’s announcement is a result of Donald Trump’s leadership and negotiating skills. After all, the Abraham Accords were brokered during his first term in 2020. Others will say this sheik is seeing the writing on the wall, wanting to distance himself even further from Iran. 

We can’t overlook the fact the al-Jaabari is Muslim, but not an Islamist. We are told the difference between the two is religious versus political. In the broadest sense that is true. But for the Muslim, openly dissenting with Islamists is rarely observed. 

Sheikh Wadee’ al-Jaabari
 

Following his proclamation, some members of his family published this response the next day:

“The Al-Jaabari family has long been rooted in the defense of Palestinian national principles, including the right of our people to self-determination and the protection of our land from the river to the sea,” they wrote, and called on the public to not engage with al-Jaabari. 

Shortly after that, the sheikhs supporting the Emirate of Hebron responded with a statement accusing al-Jaabari’s extended family members of being “institutionally connected to the PA,” according to Wall Street Journal reporter Elliot Kaufman.

From the Israeli perspective, those living on the West bank—known as Judea and Samaria—are praising the idea of an Emirate of Hebron.

ChatGTP, the large language model, gave the answer to the question of what is the difference between a Muslim and an Islamist, this way:

• A Muslim is someone, simply put, who follows the religion of Islam.
• Like Christians or Jews, Muslims vary widely in beliefs, practices, culture, and political views.
• Most Muslims around the world are peaceful and not politically extreme.

But make no mistake. Both observe Sharia—as well as the Hadith and the Qur’an for informing them of the religious and political dictates of Islam in their beliefs. The radical Islamist advocates for its oppressive rule in what they hope will be a new Caliphate.

There have been four Caliphates in history, the last being the Ottoman Caliphate, abolished by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1924.

All this is but a glimpse of why the conflicts in the Middle East are so exceedingly difficult to negotiate. Making peace in this region requires strength, wisdom, and discernment. Theological observers should study biblical prophecy all the more in this present day. End-time prophecy should be used for encouragement and evangelism.

• “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” —Matthew 5:9

Photo by Dan Rosenstein on Unsplash