The Jewish Mediator: Resolving Bedouin Clan Conflicts

It was one of the most significant moments of his role as a 'mediator'. He, a Jewish Israeli citizen, sat with the King of Jordan, engaging in lengthy discussions. Afterwards, he even received a royal sword as a token of appreciation and respect.

So, what brought Moshe Leibovitz before King Hussein? And what was he doing in Jordan in the first place?

 

An Unappealing Offer

Moshe Leibovitz, 68, has an impressive resume: he's a rabbi, a doctor, and an initiator of many Haredi cities in Israel, such as Beitar Illit. However, in the Bedouin sector, Leibovitz holds a more daring title: 'The Mediator'. He has sat with crime families, including those instilling fear in the underworld, resolving complex conflicts that senior Arab leaders couldn't tackle.

Let's go back to the beginning: What connects a Haredi Jew to the Bedouin sector?

"My familiarity with the Bedouin sector began with the initiative to establish the planned Haredi city of Kasif, now known as 'Menorah BaDarom'", says Leibovitz. "As part of laying the groundwork, I embarked on a journey to explore the Negev areas where the city was planned. During this journey, I closely observed the local Bedouin diaspora. I had to plan the construction so as to bypass the Bedouin outposts without harming the illegal camps set up there."

Accompanying Leibovitz on his adventurous journey through the Negev dunes was settlement operative Yaki Cohen, a former senior IDF officer residing in southern Mount Hebron. "He told me about a long-standing multi-generational conflict between two families—a conflict no sheikh had managed to resolve despite numerous attempts. He suggested I should step in as the mediator between the feuding parties."

That's not a tempting offer at all...

"True," he laughs, "but I saw it as an opportunity to sanctify Hashem's name in the world if I succeeded. Additionally, it was a chance for me to develop ties with the Bedouin sector. I aimed to advance the construction of the Kasif city bordering the diaspora, and I did everything I could for that purpose. I operated on all possible levels, and the chance to be a 'mediator' in the Bedouin sector was another dimension Hashem presented to me."

 

Alone in a Bedouin Tent

Leibovitz attended his first meeting in the Bedouin tent garbed in a gold-embroidered Bedouin gown. "I entered the tent with Yaki Cohen and suddenly found myself surrounded by dozens of Arabs. Each side of the conflict gathered in its own camp, and hatred was evident from every corner. In those moments, I realized I had undertaken an extraordinarily complex task."

What's it like to enter the 'Kasbah' alone amidst all the commotion?

"Throughout my life, I've had many interactions with the Arab sector," he replies. "The city of Beitar Illit is very close to the Green Line, and in its early days, every vehicle traveling there became a target for stone throwing and firebombs. I was struck more than once until I decided to meet with the village leaders to address the issue face to face."

Now, Leibovitz utilized all his interpersonal skills to hope for an end to the brutal blood feud between the clans. "We had intense meetings where I sat with both parties, laying all the cards on the table. Nothing was hidden or obscured. Everything was out in the open, and each side presented its stance in the conflict. After a series of lengthy meetings, different voices began to emerge. The hatred, passed down through generations, began to soften and subside.

"Mediation in the Bedouin sector isn't just about discussions," Leibovitz continues. "A crucial part involves financial compensation that sometimes amounts to large sums. I'll never forget the final meeting with the feuding clans. Dozens of Bedouins crowded into the tent alongside representatives of the traditional Bedouin judiciary who came to approve the mediation and give it a halachic endorsement. At the climax, the rival parties shook hands and announced a peace agreement. Those were extraordinary moments of sanctifying Hashem's name in the world."

The tale of the Jewish 'mediator', who successfully made peace in one of the longest-standing and talked-about conflicts in the Bedouin sector, began to spread in Israel and beyond. Leibovitz started receiving numerous requests from Bedouin tribes in Israel and Arab countries, hoping he would resolve their bloody conflicts too. "Even sheikhs, who couldn't make peace themselves, called me and asked for my intervention in various complicated cases. These were days when I found myself moving from clan to clan, successfully mediating between them and sanctifying Hashem's name in the world. The highlight was when the son of a senior sheikh in Oman, Sheikh Nawaaf, was acquitted by the Omani Supreme Court from a fabricated case against him, thanks to written testimony I sent them, which they relied on."

 

The Shadow Man

On his mediation journeys, Leibovitz often appeared in the gold-embroidered gown, which over time became his signature look. There's an intriguing story behind this gown.

With the signing of the peace agreement between Israel and Jordan in 1994, the Aqaba crossing was opened to Israeli visitors. Leibovitz was among the first to dare to visit a country that was previously hostile. "I crossed the border early in the morning. While waiting for the approvals, the sunrise emerged, and I wrapped myself in a tallit and tefillin to begin the morning prayers. It was the first time a Jew prayed with the king's portrait of King Hussein in the background."

Weren't you afraid to be among the first to visit a hostile country? That's a considerable risk.

"True, but deep within Jordan awaited me the sheikh of Wadi Musa, one of the kingdom's most senior sheikhs. I had a kind of assurance from him. Although, in truth, it was hard to hide the local residents' hostility. When I got into the car waiting beyond the border to take me to the sheikh, the driver looked at me and said, 'I'm not Jordanian, I'm Palestinian, but I have a role to bring you alive to the destination. Anyway, I recommend you remove any Jewish symbols from yourself while you're with me.'"

In Leibovitz's first meeting with the sheikh of Wadi Musa, located in southern Jordan, he was gifted the gold-embroidered Bedouin gown. The friendly relationship between them led to a twin city pact between Beitar Illit and Wadi Musa. "This pact advanced me towards the goal I wanted to achieve."

What was the goal?

"To strengthen ties with the Jordanian kingdom with Bedouin roots, boosting the Bedouins' status against the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria. The equation was simple: the more the Bedouins' status rose in Israel, the more the Palestinians' status decreased. King Hussein had a long-standing issue with the Palestinians. In the early 70s, a civil war erupted between the Jordanian army and Palestinian organizations, resulting in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths in the kingdom. This massacre of Palestinians was directly ordered by Hussein since they planned a coup to seize his control."

During his visit to Jordan, Leibovitz was just a young council leader in Israel but seized the moment to weaken the terror focal points emerging from the kingdom. "Just last week, it was reported that a Hamas-affiliated terror cell was captured in Jordan, planning to destabilize the government. History simply repeats itself."

A Celebration With Arafat's Approval

After a series of meetings with regional leaders in Jordan, Leibovitz earned a connection with King Hussein of Jordan himself. "We met together but mostly corresponded extensively," he reveals. "With prominent government ministers, I had closer connections, engaging in many interesting conversations. Later, I attended King Hussein's funeral."

In general, during his public duties, Leibovitz formed numerous connections with key figures in the Arab world. As the first council chairman of Beitar Illit, he often met with heads of nearby Arab villages who called him "Ra'is al-Beitar." After finishing his term, they organized a festive farewell party for him. "The celebration was delayed and took some time because they first had to get approval from Yasser Arafat," he recalls.

Leibovitz also built interesting relationships with leaders of different religions. For instance, he received the title of Friend of the Druze Community and was chosen to serve an administrative role at the Nabi Marei site in the north. But if you ask him, the connections with Arab leaders in Jordan were among the most intriguing and led to particularly successful results.

So, if you ever visit Moshe Leibovitz's home in Jerusalem and see a sharp sword displayed on the wall—don't be alarmed. "It's a sword I received as a gift from the Jordanian government, as a token of friendship with King Hussein," he concludes his story.