Lieberman has called for an ‘exchange of populations’ and territory between Jews and Arabs. “The issue of Israeli Arabs is urgent, serious and should be much more of a priority than the Palestinian problem,” he said today. Lieberman doesn’t shy away from requiring Israel’s Arabs to serve in the IDF and wants a referendum to advance his plan.
“Specifically during these days,” wrote Lieberman to Likud members, “committees are sitting and preparing how to uproot the residents of Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) from their homes based on the government decision to give away these areas unilaterally to the hand of Palestinian terrorists – exposing the entire southern region to terrorism…The unilateral uprooting of Yesha communities is transfer and is a severe act that goes against the basic tenets of the national camp, standing in stark contrast to all the promises made in the last elections. It was specifically the Likud chairman who spearheaded the harsh attacks against the platform of the Labor party’s then-chairman Amram Mitzna and against any notion of unilateral withdrawal, explaining very well the dangers of such moves.”
However, Lieberman continued by stating that, “the present situation is even more serious. It is important to stress that a unilateral withdrawal is not only transfer of Jews, but a de jure creation of two states.”
Lieberman stressed in his letter that, “We are talking about a nationally homogenous Palestinian state alongside a binational state – Israel will be half Jewish and half Arab. The State of Israel as a binational state made up of a militant minority of upward of 20% who identify themselves as Palestinians and are loyal to the Palestinian State that Sharon is committed to establishing will place Israel in an impossible situation, making us susceptible to pressure from without and within simultaneously.”
Lieberman warns members of the Likud Central Committee: “If, God forbid, Sharon’s plan is actualized, such a development would lead to the end of the State of Israel as a Jewish and Zionist state within a short time.”
“I stress once again,” writes the National Union chairman, “that today’s struggle is not about the future of the settlements, but about the very future of the Jewish state – whether it will become a state of all its citizens or will remain a Zionist and Jewish state.”
Lieberman then addresses the issue of Israel’s Arab citizens, saying that the “problem of Israeli Arabs is more severe, urgent and a higher priority than even the Palestinian problem. Without a solution to the problem of Israel’s Arabs there is no reason to solve the Palestinian problem. On the contrary, the juxtaposition of the two issues is the single, remaining opportunity for a comprehensive just solution for the region.”
According to Lieberman, “The solution is based on the Cypress model, involving an exchange of territory and populations between Jews and Arabs, with Jews on one side and the Arabs on the other.”
Such a solution begs the asking of many questions, Lieberman intuits, offering as an example the issue of whether an Arab citizen of Israel could be an equal citizen within the Jewish state after such a plan was implemented. “Most certainly,” says Lieberman, “as long as the Israeli Arab identifies with the State of Israel as a Jewish and Zionist state, pledging allegiance to the flag and the national anthem and serves in the IDF or some other form of national service.”
“If you will it, it is no dream,” Lieberman says of his plan, insisting that it is realistic and practical, but must be advanced among the Israeli public. “A broad consensus must be reached in the nation through the holding of a national referendum. I have no doubt that at least 70% will vote in favor of a separation between Jews an Arabs and the exchange of populations and territories.”
Lieberman is promoting his plan not only in Israel but to the United States Congress and Senate, as well as the Russian government, encouraging citizens and parliamentarians in those countries to encourage their leaders to support the concept of mutual separation.
“Specifically during these days,” wrote Lieberman to Likud members, “committees are sitting and preparing how to uproot the residents of Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) from their homes based on the government decision to give away these areas unilaterally to the hand of Palestinian terrorists – exposing the entire southern region to terrorism…The unilateral uprooting of Yesha communities is transfer and is a severe act that goes against the basic tenets of the national camp, standing in stark contrast to all the promises made in the last elections. It was specifically the Likud chairman who spearheaded the harsh attacks against the platform of the Labor party’s then-chairman Amram Mitzna and against any notion of unilateral withdrawal, explaining very well the dangers of such moves.”
However, Lieberman continued by stating that, “the present situation is even more serious. It is important to stress that a unilateral withdrawal is not only transfer of Jews, but a de jure creation of two states.”
Lieberman stressed in his letter that, “We are talking about a nationally homogenous Palestinian state alongside a binational state – Israel will be half Jewish and half Arab. The State of Israel as a binational state made up of a militant minority of upward of 20% who identify themselves as Palestinians and are loyal to the Palestinian State that Sharon is committed to establishing will place Israel in an impossible situation, making us susceptible to pressure from without and within simultaneously.”
Lieberman warns members of the Likud Central Committee: “If, God forbid, Sharon’s plan is actualized, such a development would lead to the end of the State of Israel as a Jewish and Zionist state within a short time.”
“I stress once again,” writes the National Union chairman, “that today’s struggle is not about the future of the settlements, but about the very future of the Jewish state – whether it will become a state of all its citizens or will remain a Zionist and Jewish state.”
Lieberman then addresses the issue of Israel’s Arab citizens, saying that the “problem of Israeli Arabs is more severe, urgent and a higher priority than even the Palestinian problem. Without a solution to the problem of Israel’s Arabs there is no reason to solve the Palestinian problem. On the contrary, the juxtaposition of the two issues is the single, remaining opportunity for a comprehensive just solution for the region.”
According to Lieberman, “The solution is based on the Cypress model, involving an exchange of territory and populations between Jews and Arabs, with Jews on one side and the Arabs on the other.”
Such a solution begs the asking of many questions, Lieberman intuits, offering as an example the issue of whether an Arab citizen of Israel could be an equal citizen within the Jewish state after such a plan was implemented. “Most certainly,” says Lieberman, “as long as the Israeli Arab identifies with the State of Israel as a Jewish and Zionist state, pledging allegiance to the flag and the national anthem and serves in the IDF or some other form of national service.”
“If you will it, it is no dream,” Lieberman says of his plan, insisting that it is realistic and practical, but must be advanced among the Israeli public. “A broad consensus must be reached in the nation through the holding of a national referendum. I have no doubt that at least 70% will vote in favor of a separation between Jews an Arabs and the exchange of populations and territories.”
Lieberman is promoting his plan not only in Israel but to the United States Congress and Senate, as well as the Russian government, encouraging citizens and parliamentarians in those countries to encourage their leaders to support the concept of mutual separation.