Israeli minister proposes

Israeli minister proposes “confining Palestinians to four ghettos”

Feb 16, 2004, 19:01

Occupied Jerusalem - An Israeli cabinet minister has publicly proposed dividing the West Bank into “four large ghettoes or cantons” cut off from each other and isolated from the rest of the world for the purpose of “controlling the Palestinians.”

Transportation minister Avigedor Leiberman said Monday his proposed plan would guarantee “Israeli interest” and prevent the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.

The Israeli press quoted Leiberman as saying that caging the Palestinians inside four cantons was the Israeli right’s alternative plan to the American-backed “roadmap” peace plan.

President Bush reaffirmed his commitment to the roadmap plan during a televised interview with the newly-launched American Arabic TV station, al Hurra, Sunday.

Leiberman said he would seek the support of what he called “the national camp” for his ideas.

Leiberman holds quasi-fascist views toward non-Jews and supports ethnic cleansing or expulsion of Palestinians from their ancestral homeland.

He has called for the bombing of Damascus, Beirut, Tehran and the High Dam in Egypt.

Extremists, who make up the bulk of the current Israeli government, have opposed the “roadmap” as well the recent proposal by the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to evacuate Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip.