Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman has prepared a political plan for the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It includes the creation of a Palestinian state within "temporary" borders. Israeli daily Haaretz in itsSunday issue reported that Lieberman's plan, which was viewed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, involves connecting the Palestinian territories together. Lieberman's plan does not involve, however, the evacuation of any settlements nor does it involve a halt to building new ones or expanding old ones. Furthermore, it does not include land swap arrangements. According to the daily's report, Lieberman's plan entails that approximately 55 percent of the West Bank remains under Israeli control. Many in Netanyahu's government support the plan, including Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon. Lieberman's justification for the plan centres on the fact that it would rid Israel of West Bank territories with a dense Palestinian demographic. Jerusalem, according to the plan, is outside of the negotiations, even though it constitutes 15 per cent of West Bank territory. Instructions were given to the Foreign Ministry by Lieberman to circulate the plan across Israeli embassies and consulates, to familiarise foreign governments with it, Haaretz said. Liebermanwill also present the plan to the US Congress, the daily asserted, and will call on the US government to exert pressure on the Palestinians — including haltingfinancial aid —to force their acceptance of the plan and cease their diplomatic campaign against Israel.
