Lieberman Plan

The Lieberman Plan, proposed May, 2004, also known in Israel as the "Populated-Area Exchange Plan", was proposed by Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the Israeli political party Yisrael Beiteinu. The plan suggests an exchange of "populated territories" - territories populated by both Arabs and Jews - between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Lieberman maintains that it is not similar to a "population exchange" or population transfer, which would imply the forcible removal of populations from their homes, but rather a redrawing of the border between Palestinian and Israeli communities. He also claimed that his plan was not publicly denounced, neither by the Arab states nor the Palestinians.Cite news
title = Avigdor Lieberman Q&A
work = Haaretz
accessdate = 2008-07-13
url = http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/pages/QAHeb.jhtml?qaNo=135 he icon]

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.Fact|date=July 2008

Opposition

Arab citizens of Israel are widely opposed to the plan. On the one hand, with very few exceptions, Arabs in Israel argue that they are native to the region and should not have to renounce the villages and cities in which they were born. Others insist that they as Israeli citizens, they deserve equal rights within the State, and should not be singled out by ethnic or religious background as a fifth column. Various polls show that Arabs in Israel in general do not wish to move to the West Bank or Gaza if a Palestinian state is created there. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/23/opinion/eddromi.php Israeli Arabs and the Vote] International Herald Tribune, 24 March 2006] Vocal critics say the Lieberman Plan amounts to the institution of apartheid and as such is racist.Fact|date=July 2008

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, they say, it would surrender large portions of territory to a hostile entity, threatening the security of Israel. Right-wing Jewish critics have also argued that this measure will not be enough since "The number of Arab Israelis would drop by 116,000-148,000, or a total of 8.2-10.5 percent of the Arab population of Israel, and just 2.1 percent of the population in general," rather than emptying Israel of all Arabs.Fact|date=July 2008

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