Netanyahu Criticizes Lieberman's Jordan Plan, Echoing His Own Past Proposal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticized a proposal by Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, to involve Jordan in the administration of Palestinian territories in the West Bank. Netanyahu accused Lieberman of being "leftist" and demanded he retract the idea, which the Prime Minister characterized as "transferring territories of the Land of Israel under the control of the Jordanian army." However, the political dispute has revealed a historical parallel: in June 2007, Netanyahu himself, then an opposition leader, suggested involving Jordan in security arrangements in the West Bank and even mentioned deploying the "Badr" Palestinian brigade, which was part of the Jordanian army, to the area.

Lieberman's proposal, made in September 2026 in a podcast interview, suggested transferring security and civil administration responsibilities in Areas A and B of the West Bank to Jordan. He argued that the Palestinian issue is more critical for Jordan than for Israel, providing Amman with a strong motivation to maintain order. While Lieberman initially mentioned "Areas B and C," his party later clarified he meant Areas A and B, with Israel retaining full control over Area C. Lieberman's plan aims to fill a vacuum left by the Palestinian Authority, preventing extremist groups from gaining influence, and envisions an "Israeli-Jordanian confederation."

Netanyahu's immediate reaction was harsh, stating, "I knew you were left-wing since you formed a government with Mansour Abbas... But I didn't believe that today you would propose this: that the Jordanian army would manage the territories of Eretz Israel. Immediately retract your words." This condemnation, however, contrasts with Netanyahu's own 2007 proposal, reported by Ynet, which suggested bringing Jordanian military forces into the West Bank. At that time, following Hamas's takeover of Gaza, Netanyahu expressed concern about security order in the West Bank and proposed the "Badr" brigade's involvement.

The key difference lies in their objectives. In 2007, Netanyahu's goal was to bolster the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas, seeing Jordanian involvement as a supporting security measure. Lieberman's 2026 proposal, conversely, suggests Jordan effectively replacing the Palestinian Authority in Areas A and B, taking on both administrative and security roles. Both politicians, however, share a fundamental distrust in the Palestinian Authority's ability to prevent Hamas takeovers and seek solutions involving a neighboring Arab state, including the potential presence of Jordanian-affiliated armed units.

The article concludes that Netanyahu's accusation of Lieberman transferring "Jewish land" to the Jordanian army is likely an election tactic. While the scope of authority differs significantly between the two proposals, the core idea of involving Jordan in West Bank security is not new for Netanyahu. This historical context complicates the current political debate, suggesting a potential new concept for resolving the Palestinian issue in the West Bank, provided it can be discussed calmly without pre-election political hysteria.