Lieberman Proposes Jordan Administer West Bank Affairs, Abolish Oslo Accords

Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and a Knesset member, unveiled a political plan on Sunday for the West Bank. His proposal suggests Jordan would assume responsibility for public order through a police force and manage the daily lives of Palestinians in Areas A and B, while Israel would maintain geographical contiguity and security control over the entire region. Lieberman stated, "If we do not define the ultimate goal and do not take the initiative ourselves, others will define our future."

Lieberman outlined three existing approaches to the West Bank: the first, supported by Ben Gvir and Smotrich, advocates for Israeli sovereignty over all of the West Bank and Gaza, leading to a binational state and Israel managing Palestinian daily life. The second, attributed to Yair Golan, involves returning to the 1967 borders, including Jerusalem, and establishing a Palestinian state. The third, associated with Benjamin Netanyahu, proposes continuing a policy of containment for approximately two and a half years until the United States compels Israel to establish a Palestinian state.

Lieberman's "fourth option" involves dissolving the Palestinian Authority and abrogating the Oslo Accords. He explained that his alternative aims to restore security to Israelis and prevent a repeat of the October 7th attack on Jewish towns. The goal is to avoid a power vacuum after a change in the Palestinian Authority's leadership that Hamas or Islamic Jihad could exploit, while also preventing the establishment of an internationally recognized Palestinian state.

Despite current tensions with Jordan, Lieberman noted that security coordination with the Hashemite Kingdom remains stable and close, emphasizing their shared 300-kilometer border and the crucial role of cooperation in maintaining regional security. He also proposed treating the West Bank and Gaza as separate entities, with the initial step in both cases being to find a credible entity acceptable to the Arab world and international community to take control and responsibility.

Regarding Gaza, Lieberman asserted that Hamas must be completely eliminated by the Israeli military, after which external management would be transferred. He concluded by stating his plan is based on years of regional knowledge and discussions with relevant parties, expressing confidence in its feasibility through initiative, persistence, and political courage.