Liberman Blames Netanyahu After Jordan Control Remark Sparks Outrage

Avigdor Liberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, caused a significant controversy during a live interview with "Besheva" when he stated that Jordan should govern the Palestinian population and territories in Judea and Samaria, including Area C, which is currently under Israeli control. The remarks quickly drew sharp criticism, with Religious Zionism Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling the statement a "loss of composure." The right-wing "Forum Returning Home" movement condemned Liberman's words as "nothing less than the madness of a dangerous man."

Liberman later backtracked, attributing his statement to a mistake and confusion. He clarified that his intention was for Jordan to manage only Areas A and B, not Area C. He then shifted blame to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating, "For those who find it difficult to recover from confusion, I remind you that Netanyahu confused October 7th with November 7th when he spoke about the most terrible massacre of Jews since the Holocaust."

Explaining his initial reasoning, Liberman told "Besheva" that an understanding must be reached with the Jordanians for them to administer Judea and Samaria, taking security and administrative responsibility, as he believes a vacuum should not exist. Liberman, who identifies as right-wing, had initially suggested Jordan should control the Palestinian population and territories in Judea and Samaria, encompassing Area C, currently administered by Israel.