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Minister proposes 'economic incentives' for Palestinians to leave Israel

November 29, 2014 at 2:13 pm

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman proposed on Friday that the government should offer “economic incentives” for Israel’s Palestinian citizens to leave the country and relocate in the proposed independent State of Palestine. The media in Israel reported that although the right-wing minister has spoken previously about redrawing borders to reduce Israel’s Palestinian population, this is the first time that he has mentioned that they should leave.

Lieberman’s remarks were posted on Facebook and his party’s website. They came amid concerns about a breakdown in the ruling coalition.

The foreign minister has long been one of the most vocal of those calling for the separation of Jews and Palestinians living in Jaffa and Acre. He has always suggested that Palestinians should be encouraged to move if they want to.

His statement was headed “Swimming Against the Stream”: “Those [Palestinians in Israel] who decide that their identity is Palestinian will be able to concede their Israeli citizenship and move and become citizens of the future Palestinian state. Israel should even encourage them to do so with a system of economic incentives.”