Gilad Erdan
Gilad ErdanTomer Neuberg/Flash 90

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan attacked Defense Minister Liberman's call for an economic boycott on the Israeli-Arab Wadi Ara region.

Liberman had blasted Israeli-Arab rioters who threw stones at police Saturday night at Wadi Ara as part of a protest against President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. "I call on all Israeli citizens not to enter their shops. Don't buy anything from them," Liberman declared on the Reshet Bet radio station. "We need to give them the feeling that they are unwanted."

Erdan disagreed with Liberman and dismissed Liberman's plan to spin off Arab areas of Israel and integrate them into a Palestinian state, in exchange for areas of Judea and Samaria that would be annexed to Israel.

"I do not agree with Liberman's statements," Erdan said. "I am no less right-wing than him. If the principle is to give up on every place where there is an Arab majority, we will have to give up Jaffa as well."

Erdan also elaborated why he recently said that Coalition Chairman MK David Bitan (Likud) should not resign from the Knesset despite the ongoing police investigation against him. "If an MK had to resign every time the police opened an investigation against him then the alternative would be worse, unfortunately," he said.

Erden later attacked Bennett's announcement on Saturday night that he would run for prime minister after Netanyahu's term ended. "These declarations do not build leadership," said Erdan. "Those who care about preserving right-wing rule should refrain from such statements.