Liberman's Jordan Control Plan for West Bank Sparks Outrage Among Right-Wing Israelis

Former Israeli minister Avigdor Liberman has ignited a firestorm within right-wing circles by proposing that Jordan take responsibility for security in Areas A and B of the West Bank. This suggestion, made in the wake of the October 7th Hamas attacks, has been met with fierce criticism, with opponents arguing it amounts to ceding Israeli security control to a foreign power.

Liberman, who has historically cultivated an image as an uncompromising hardliner on security and national identity, is accused of a "sharp left turn" by his detractors. Critics point to his past rhetoric, including slogans about loyalty and proposals for land swaps, as evidence of his supposed commitment to Israeli sovereignty. They argue that entrusting security to Jordan, a country with a large Palestinian population and a populace often critical of Israel, is a dangerous betrayal of his base.

Supporters of Liberman's proposal, or those attempting to clarify it, suggest he meant Areas A and B, not B and C, but this distinction does not appease critics. The core concern remains the transfer of security responsibility for the heart of the West Bank to a foreign military, which they deem unacceptable, especially after the failures exposed on October 7th.

Commentators have drawn parallels to past security decisions, such as the 1967 handover of the Temple Mount keys to Jordanian Waqf, which they argue proved disastrous. The article emphasizes that while political arrangements can be debated, Israel's security must remain solely in its own hands, and outsourcing it is not an option. The proposal has reportedly angered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has demanded Liberman retract his statement.