Could Liberman's West Bank plan play into Hamas' hands?
Palestinians say the benefits and punishments plan introduced by Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman is doomed to fail because it seeks to replace President Mahmoud Abbas with other leading Palestinians.
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman unveiled on Aug. 17 what was described as a plan to contend with Palestinian terrorism. The two main points that Liberman presented to the press were the need to find an alternative civilian leadership to replace Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the mapping of towns and villages throughout the West Bank as “red” and “green.” Regions from which no terrorist activities are launched will be colored green on a map hanging in the Defense Ministry and earn various benefits and an easing of restrictions. Regions from which terrorists originate will be colored red, and security measures will be leveled against them.
While it is unclear whether residents of the “red” areas will be denied permits to work in Israel, it's already known that green areas will be rewarded with the expansion of their development plans. Furthermore, an economic corridor linking Jericho and Jordan will be established, an industrial zone will be built west of Nablus, a hospital will be constructed in Beit Sahour, east of Bethlehem, and playgrounds and soccer fields will be created in Samaria.
The Defense Minister’s plan completely ignores the tight security cooperation between the Israeli security apparatus he heads and Palestinian security forces under Abbas — forces that have been effective in maintaining calm and preventing the outbreak of another widespread intifada in the West Bank. Abbas, whom Liberman is currently trying to go around, actually described in 2014 this security collaboration between Israel and the Palestinians as “sacred.” As far as Liberman is concerned, it's convenient to conceal this important information from the public, thus proving that ''there is no one to talk to'' on the Palestinian side.
One of the first things Liberman did upon being appointed defense minister was to deny Mohammed Madani, the chairman of the Palestinian Committee for Interaction with Israel, his special entrance permit to Israel. The move was intended to prevent Madani from addressing Israeli groups about the Palestinians’ desire to reach a diplomatic accord with Israel.
