Israeli Defense Minister Katz Slams Lieberman's Territorial Proposals

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday sharply criticized Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, and Yair Golan, accusing them of promoting a dangerous policy that would cede control of parts of the West Bank to Jordan and lead to the expulsion of Jewish settlers.

Katz's remarks came in response to Lieberman's proposal to grant Jordan administrative and security control over Areas A and B in the West Bank. Katz asserted that the current right-wing government has "crushed terror and is strengthening settlements in Judea and Samaria," contrasting this with what he described as the left-wing bloc's plans for "retreat and the liquidation of settlements."

"Lieberman and Yair Golan are revealing their dangerous intentions, as if October 7 taught nothing," Katz stated. He recalled Lieberman's previous suggestion to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza and transfer the territory and the Philadelphi Corridor to Egypt. Katz then detailed Lieberman's new proposal: placing the Jordanian army in Qalqilya, near Highway 6, and giving Jordan military-security and administrative control over Areas A and B, despite Jordan's official policy of supporting a Palestinian state.

Katz also targeted Yair Golan, calling him Lieberman's partner and a "future defense minister." According to Katz, Golan intends to expel 100,000 Jewish settlers from their homes upon entering office. "These are two proposals that combine into one dangerous policy: expelling Jews from their homes, retreating, and handing our security to others on the path to creating a Palestinian terrorist state in the heart of the country," Katz declared.

The Defense Minister then highlighted the government's actions in Judea and Samaria, including the removal of 40,000 residents from refugee camps in northern Samaria, the destruction of Iranian terror infrastructure there, and ongoing IDF control of these camps. Katz claimed that terrorism throughout Judea and Samaria has been reduced by 80%, reaching its lowest level on record, and that 104 new settlements and 160 new farms have been established. He concluded by warning that a "left-wing government dependent on Arab parties promoting these plans would endanger settlements and the security of the citizens of the State of Israel."