Leaked minutes from 2006 meeting between foreign minister-to be, American ambassador reveal Israeli politician proposed to demarcate Palestinian border, transfer Egyptian land to ‘overcrowded Gaza’
A new document posted on the WikiLeaks website, reveals that before becoming the foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman said that Egypt should give Gaza some of its territory.
According to the protocol from a 2006 meeting between Lieberman and United States Ambassador Richard Jones, the foreign minister-to be suggested to demarcate the border with the Palestinians in a way that would include Egypt.
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The leaked document stated that Lieberman claimed Egypt should be part of the solution, by handing some of its territory to Gaza, which he described as „overcrowded.”
In a document summarizing the meeting, the American ambassador penned his impression of the Israeli politician, describing him as a staunch supporter of the settlement project and a stern nationalist.
The ambassador noted that Lieberman had said to him that „separating between Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs is vital in order to maintain Israel‘s security and preserve its Jewish identity.”
‘Staunch supporter of settlement project’ (Photo: Reuters)
In order to implement the plan, the Yisrael Beiteinu chairman proposed that „Israel redraws its borders with the West Bank through negotiations, in order to place populated Arab-Israeli centers that are close to the Green Line within the Palestinian territory.”
At the same time, Lieberman demanded that settlement blocs in proximity with the Green Lone remain under Israel’s sovereignty.
In the meeting, the Israeli politician raised the issue of pledging a loyalty oath to the State, proposing that every citizen signs an oath of alliance. „Other than the Bedouins in the north, very few Arab Muslims will sign the oath,” he estimated, claiming their only motivation to stay in Israel is to receive the social benefits that the state offers.
Lieberman further noted that unlike them, the Druze population has a long history of loyalty to the State, adding that they perform full military service.
Ronen Medzini
