Lieberman Plan
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| Part of Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Arab-Israeli conflict series |
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| Israeli-Palestinian peace process | |
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| History of the peace process | |
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Camp David Accords • Madrid Conference • Oslo Accords • Oslo II • Hebron Agreement • Wye River Memorandum • Sharm e-Sheikh memorandum • Camp David 2000 Summit • Taba Summit • Road map • Annapolis Conference |
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| Primary negotiation concerns | |
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Antisemitic incitements • Status of Jerusalem • Israeli settlements • Israeli West Bank barrier • Jewish state • Palestinian political violence • Palestinian refugees • Palestinian state • Places of worship |
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Beirut Summit • Elon Peace Plan • Lieberman Plan • Geneva Accord • Hudna • Israel's unilateral disengagement plan and Realignment plan • Projects working for peace • Peace Valley plan 1 The Golan Heights are not part of Israeli-Palestinian track |
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The Lieberman Plan, proposed May, 2004, also known in Israel as the "Populated-Area Exchange Plan", suggests an exchange of populated territories, populated by Arabs and Jews respectively, between Israel and Palestinian Authority[1]. This is sometimes confused with population exchange or population transfer, which imply the forcible removal of populations from their homes.[citation needed] This is not advocated under the Lieberman Plan, which merely suggests drawing new borders between Palestinian and Israeli communities. The plan is named after Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the Israeli political party Yisrael Beiteinu.
[edit] Demographics
The Lieberman Plan suggests a territorial exchange whereby Israel would acquire most Jewish regions in the West Bank at the same time that it would cede Arab regions of Israel to the Palestinian Authority. There are three major Arab regions in Israel, all contiguous with the West Bank: (1) the southern and central Galilee, (2) the central region known as "the Triangle" and (3) the Bedouin region in the northern part of the Negev desert. Giving up these three regions would reduce the number of Israeli Arab citizens by 90%. Only those Arabs living in isolated villages and as minorities in Jewish cities would remain. The ethnic Druze community, which is Zionist, would also remain part of Israel. All remaining citizens whether Jews or Arabs would have to pledge an oath of allegiance to the state in order to keep their Israeli citizenship.
[edit] Criticism
Arab critics claim that the Lieberman plan amounts to the institution of apartheid and as such is racist, while Jewish critics sympathetic to the idea of exchanging populated territories insist that it would be preferable to do this as part of a comprehensive peace agreement. They point out that while Arabs under the plan would still be allowed to retain Israeli citizenship if they take an oath of allegiance, no reciprocal possibility exists. Critics on the political and religious right oppose this plan because it means surrendering large portions of territory to a hostile entity, threatening the security of Israel.
Most Israeli Arabs object to trading Israeli citizenship for Palestinian citizenship, largely because they fear the incompetence of their own people.[2]
