Lieberman Proposes Dismantling Palestinian Authority, Transferring Areas A and B to Jordan

Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, has unveiled a comprehensive plan for the future of Judea and Samaria. The proposal calls for separating Gaza from Judea and Samaria, dismantling the Palestinian Authority, and abrogating the Oslo Accords. Lieberman suggests establishing territorial contiguity for Israeli settlements and transferring Areas A and B to Jordanian control.

Lieberman argued that international recognition of a Palestinian state is becoming increasingly inevitable, stating, "If we do not take the initiative, we will get a Palestinian state controlled by Hamas." He asserted that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is not a relevant partner, citing Abbas's alleged Holocaust denial, refusal to condemn the October 7th massacre, and the significant increase in armed Palestinian security forces beyond the limits set by the Oslo Accords. Lieberman also accused Abbas of inciting violence against Israel through the Palestinian education system and media, and of pursuing false claims against Israel and IDF soldiers in international courts, while also providing substantial monthly payments to the families of terrorists.

Lieberman criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approval of Palestinian parliamentary elections on November 28th, calling it a "gift" to Hamas. He also recalled Netanyahu's past opposition to Yisrael Beiteinu's proposal to apply Israeli sovereignty to the Jordan Valley.

Lieberman believes that due to declining American public support for Israel, the US will eventually recognize a Palestinian state, especially after the current US presidential term concludes. He warned that without Israeli initiative, the future of the region will be determined by others. He noted that while President Donald Trump is in office, the US veto at the UN Security Council and its opposition to a unilateral Palestinian state are safeguards, but this could change with a new US president.

The plan outlines four potential approaches: the first, attributed to Ben Gvir and Smotrich, involves annexing all of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, leading to a binational state. The second, associated with Yair Golan, suggests returning to the 1967 borders and establishing a Palestinian state. The third, described as Netanyahu's approach, is a policy of containment for about two and a half years until the US imposes a Palestinian state on Israel. Lieberman's fourth option is an Israeli initiative to prevent a Palestinian state, dismantle the PA, cancel the Oslo Accords, and establish an "upgraded London Agreement" based on Israeli-Jordanian cooperation.