Liberman Proposes Jordan Administer West Bank Areas A and B; Netanyahu Rejects

Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, proposed on Wednesday that Israel reach an understanding with Jordan for Amman to assume security and administrative responsibility for Areas A and B in the occupied West Bank. Liberman stated that Israel should maintain absolute control over Area C, which constitutes 60% of the West Bank, and find an alternative to its current control over Areas A and B. He argued against Israel managing the daily lives of Palestinians in cities like Nablus, Jenin, or Tulkarm, suggesting that Jordanian administration would prevent a vacuum that could be exploited by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Liberman also reiterated his view that the Palestinian Authority is a terrorist organization, distinguishing between its political terrorism and Hamas's armed terrorism. He further suggested the establishment of an Israeli-Jordanian confederation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately rejected Liberman's proposal, demanding he retract his statements. Netanyahu accused Liberman of being on the left, citing his past government formations, and expressed disbelief that Liberman would suggest the Jordanian army control parts of the Land of Israel. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also criticized Liberman, calling his proposal a relinquishing of security responsibility in Judea and Samaria to the Jordanians and a return to the era of the Jordanian Legion.