Defense Minister Katz Criticizes Lieberman, Golan Over West Bank Proposals

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has strongly criticized proposals made by Avigdor Lieberman and Yair Golan regarding the West Bank, characterizing them as policies of retreat and transferring security responsibility to external actors. Katz specifically targeted Lieberman, alleging that he recently proposed withdrawing unilaterally from Gaza and handing over the territory and the Philadelphi Corridor to Egypt. Katz further claimed that Lieberman is now suggesting the deployment of a Jordanian army in Qalqilya, near Highway 6, and transferring security and administrative control of Areas A and B in the West Bank to Jordan.

Katz also attacked Yair Golan, whom he referred to as the "designated defense minister," stating that Golan intends to evacuate 100,000 Jewish settlers from their homes immediately upon entering office. The Defense Minister asserted that these two proposals represent a single, dangerous policy. He contrasted this with the policies of the right-wing government, which he stated is "crushing terrorism and strengthening settlement in Judea and Samaria," while the "left bloc is planning to fold and destroy the settlement enterprise."