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Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has annulled the Hebron Accords, effectively seizing planning and construction powers at a Jewish and Muslim shrine in the occupied West Bank from Palestinian authorities. This move, announced Tuesday, revives the idea of an "Emirate of Hebron," previously proposed but rejected by Palestinians over a year ago.

The 1997 agreement had granted the Palestinian Hebron municipality authority in the H2 area of the city, despite Israeli military control. In what appears to be a coordinated effort, Likud Minister Nir Barkat presented a government-backed plan at a Knesset hearing to establish an independent emirate in Hebron, with residents seceding from the Palestinian Authority and joining regional normalization agreements.

Haaretz reported that Barkat brought five Hebron residents to the hearing to promote the initiative. These individuals argued they could manage their local areas and maintain order through tribal leadership. They presented demands to Israeli forces, including refraining from activities against them and reducing arrests and searches on their families' lands.

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli expressed full support, calling the emirate model "the future of the West Bank" and a significant alternative to the Palestinian Authority, which the Israeli government aims to dismantle. Chikli suggested that local tribal structures could form a more stable Palestinian government than the PA's existing institutions. The Hebron Agreement of 1997 divided the city into Palestinian-controlled H1 and Israeli-controlled H2, with Palestinians retaining planning authority citywide, including in H2.

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The emirate model is the future of the West Bank and the most significant alternative offered to the Palestinian Authority so far.