Controversial Israeli plan: debate to detach Hebron from the West Bank and place it under tribal control
Al-Khamisa News Network - Gaza
The Hebrew i24NEWS channel said on Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a special session in his office today to discuss Economy Minister Nir Barkat’s initiative, which calls for separating the Hebron governorate from the rest of the West Bank and replacing its governing authority with a local tribal entity.
Details of the proposed initiative
According to the channel, Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz and Economy Minister Nir Barkat are participating in the discussions, along with senior figures from the security establishment.
The initiative includes:
Establishing an independent local tribal entity in Hebron.
This entity’s recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
Joining the Abraham Accords and developing regional partnerships.
Creating a joint industrial zone near the security fence covering more than 1,000 dunams, to accommodate tens of thousands of Palestinian workers.
Security opposition and warnings of political repercussions
The channel said Israel’s internal security service (Shin Bet) strongly opposes the plan and regards the Palestinian Authority as still a central element in what is called “counterterrorism.”
Security experts warned that implementing the initiative would undermine the prospect of establishing a Palestinian state and entrench the reality of “separate entities” that the occupation seeks to extend across the West Bank.
International background
The Wall Street Journal last month reported that Nir Barkat drafted his plan in cooperation with some notable figures from the Hebron area, centering on economic and security partnerships with Israel, along with joint development projects intended to “reduce tensions” according to the Israeli perspective.
