Arab Israeli Candidate Slams Lieberman's Jordan West Bank Proposal

Yosef Haddad, the second-ranked candidate for the 'Am Israel' party led by Ofer Winter, fiercely criticized a proposal by Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman suggesting Jordan administer areas B and C of the West Bank. Lieberman later clarified he meant areas A and B. Haddad expressed outrage, questioning the sanity of allowing Jordan into Judea and Samaria, which he referred to as "the land of Judah," not the "colonialist, Jordanian" West Bank. He argued that Jordan militarily occupied the territory before Israeli forces liberated it in 1967, and returning it to Jordan would be a betrayal.

Haddad warned of the danger of an "enemy Jordanian army" entering Israeli territory, especially after the Jordanian king's recent criticism of Israel at the UN. He cited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strong opposition to Lieberman's initial suggestion, stating, "I couldn't believe you would suggest the Jordanian army control the land of Israel." The Yisrael Beiteinu party attributed the proposal to a mistake, reiterating Lieberman's intent was for areas A and B without Israeli security control, which Haddad warned would lead to another "massacre in Kfar Saba."

Haddad also criticized Lieberman's political alliances, mentioning potential cooperation with Gadi Eisenkot and Mansour Abbas, and questioned Lieberman's willingness to cede parts of "our home" to Jordan, referencing the party's name "Yisrael Beiteinu" (Our Home Israel). He concluded with a firm declaration that no Jordanian soldier would set foot in Israel again and stated that he and Winter would not serve under Lieberman. Haddad previously expressed disdain for Arab parties, stating his intention to replace them in the Knesset.