West Bank Proposal
Avigdor Liberman Proposes Jordan Assume Security and Administrative Control of West Bank
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Under the Oslo framework, Area A is under Palestinian civil and security control, with Palestinian security forces coordinating with Israel, while Area B is under Palestinian civil administration and Israeli security responsibility; Area C remains under full Israeli security and administrative control.
2
Liberman also described the Palestinian Authority as a terrorist organization, distinguishing Hamas’s “armed terrorism” from what he called the PA’s “diplomatic terrorism.”
3
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli warned that Jordan’s Palestinian-majority population and weak government could create serious risks, including the possibility that an Islamist or nationalist government could take power in Amman; he also cited regional developments involving Turkey and Syria.
4
Liberman’s proposal builds on earlier positions: in December 2023 he called for declaring the Oslo Accords a failure and proposed a long-term confederation limited to Area A, while a January 2025 interview likewise advocated Jordanian administration of Areas A and B.
Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman proposed that Jordan take over security and administrative control of Palestinian-governed areas in the West Bank, arguing the Palestinian Authority cannot prevent chaos. Times of Israel reported that Liberman initially referred to Areas B and C but clarified he meant Areas A and B, while Israel would keep full control of Area C. The proposal drew swift condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who accused Liberman of abandoning Israel's security duties.
Liberman said Jordan could deploy its own forces or locally based units under Jordanian command to prevent a power vacuum. He argued Israel should not manage daily Palestinian life in cities like Nablus, Jenin, and Tulkarm. But coalition figures warned that Jordan's political fragility and Palestinian-majority population posed serious risks, including the possibility that an Islamist government could take power in Amman.
Liberman's Plan for Jordanian-Israeli Control
Under Liberman's proposal, Jordan would govern Areas A and B of the West Bank. Vinnews reported that he envisions an Israeli-Jordanian confederation with Israel retaining full control of Area C. Area A is currently under full Palestinian civil and security control. Area B remains under Palestinian civil rule with Israeli security responsibility. Liberman believes Jordan's involvement prevents a governing breakdown without Israeli troops managing Palestinian cities daily.
Liberman also criticized the Palestinian Authority sharply, calling it a terrorist organization. He distinguished between Hamas's "armed terrorism" and what he termed the PA's "diplomatic terrorism." According to World Israel News, his proposal builds on earlier positions from December 2023, when he declared the Oslo Accords a failure and proposed confederation limited to Area A.
Netanyahu and Smotrich Reject the Proposal Sharply
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Smotrich quickly attacked Liberman's plan. Times of Israel reported they accused him of abandoning Israel's security responsibilities and compared his idea to returning Palestinian territory to Jordanian rule. Other coalition members called the proposal dangerous and reckless. They argued it would weaken Israel's strategic position in the West Bank and create unacceptable security risks.
Concerns About Jordan's Political Stability and Regional Risks
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli warned that deploying Jordanian forces posed severe dangers. Vinnews reported Chikli highlighted Jordan's Palestinian-majority population and weak government as serious vulnerabilities. He noted that an Islamist or nationalist government could seize power in Amman, potentially destabilizing the region. Chikli also cited regional developments involving Turkey and Syria as additional reasons to reject foreign involvement in West Bank security.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
16
Articles
2
Reach
18
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
