By Pesach Benson • September 23, 2026
Jerusalem, 23 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman proposed Wednesday that Jordan assume security and administrative responsibility for Areas A and B of Judea and Samaria, drawing sharp criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and coalition members.
Liberman made the proposal in an interview with the Israeli religious-nationalist outlet Besheva. He initially said Jordan should manage Areas B and C before clarifying that he meant Areas A and B.
Under the Oslo framework, Area A is under Palestinian Authority civil and security control, Area B has Palestinian civil administration with Israel responsible for security, and Area C is under Israeli security and administrative control.
“You have to reach an understanding with the Jordanians that they will manage Judea and Samaria,” Liberman said. “Let them take security and administrative responsibility. You can’t have a vacuum.”
Asked whether he would trust Jordan’s military to assume such a role, Liberman said Amman had a strong interest in preventing instability. He suggested Jordan could either deploy its own forces or establish local battalions under Jordanian command.
“The Palestinian issue is much more acute for Jordan than for the State of Israel,” Liberman said, referring to the large Palestinian population in Jordan.
Liberman subsequently said Israel should retain “complete control” over Area C while arguing that Israel should not be responsible for administering Palestinian cities including Shechem (Nablus), Jenin and Tulkarm.
He rejected continued Palestinian Authority control, which he described as control by a terrorist organization, and proposed what he called an “Israeli-Jordanian confederation” for Areas A and B.
Netanyahu demanded that Liberman withdraw the proposal.
“I knew you were on the left, but I didn’t believe you would propose today that the Jordanian army take control of the territories of the Land of Israel,” Netanyahu wrote on X. “Retract your statement immediately.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich likewise objected, saying Liberman was seeking to transfer Israel’s security responsibility in Judea and Samaria to Jordan.
“Listen to Liberman,” Smotrich said. “Someone who presents himself as a right-winger is proposing that we give up our security responsibility in Judea and Samaria and transfer it to the Jordanians.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz also criticized the proposal, arguing that transferring security responsibility to Jordan would undermine Israel’s control of Judea and Samaria.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir mocked Liberman’s initial reference to Area C, saying: “Judea and Samaria isn’t a delivery that can be transferred to Jordan. This isn’t Wolt.”
Liberman responded by accusing his critics of overreacting and saying their response demonstrated political desperation.
