Liberman Sparks Controversy With Remarks on Jordanian Control of West Bank Areas

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and a Knesset member, ignited a political firestorm on Wednesday by suggesting that parts of the West Bank should be transferred to Jordanian control. During an interview with "Besheva," Liberman stated, "We must reach an understanding with the Jordanians so that they manage Areas B and C in Judea and Samaria, and take security and political responsibility." This statement drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned Liberman's remarks, writing on X that he was surprised Liberman would suggest Jordanian army control over Israeli territory, urging him to retract the statement. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich accused Liberman of proposing to relinquish Israeli security responsibility in the West Bank, comparing it to a return to the days of the Jordanian Legion. Retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter also criticized the idea, questioning the sanity of allowing a foreign army into Israeli territory, especially given recent statements by the Jordanian king condemning Israeli actions in the West Bank.

Other politicians, including Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas party, accused Liberman of forgetting his right-wing principles and drawing parallels to the Gaza disengagement. Deri warned that Liberman's proposal could lead to the Muslim Brotherhood entering an Israeli government, labeling Liberman a danger to the right.

Following the backlash, Liberman and Yisrael Beiteinu attempted to clarify the statement, with the party claiming Liberman misspoke during a podcast, intending to say "Areas A and B" instead of "B and C." They also accused the "evasion bloc" of a hysterical reaction and pointed to Netanyahu's own past statements and perceived missteps. Liberman himself posted on X, sharing clips of Netanyahu discussing a Palestinian state and questioning Netanyahu's right to moralize, given his past decisions, including the release of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

In a longer post, Liberman reiterated his opposition to Israel managing Palestinian lives in cities like Nablus and Jenin, advocating for Israeli control over all of Area C. He proposed an agreement with Jordan for them to manage Areas A and B, suggesting a potential Israeli-Jordanian confederation. He criticized the Palestinian Authority as a terror organization and argued against creating a vacuum that Hamas or Islamic Jihad could exploit.